Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Wind power in Egypt

This case study analyzes the development of wind power in Egypt as of March 2009, examining the economic and institutional barriers to scaling up clean energy investment in a country that is a net exporter of fossil fuels. It evaluates the wind resource potential, compares the levelized costs of wind against natural gas combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT), and outlines the necessary regulatory and strategic conditions required to transition from donor-funded projects to private-sector investment.

• Egypt possesses significant wind resources, particularly on the Red Sea coast with mean wind speeds between 8 and 10.5 m/s at 25m. The Gulf of Suez is identified as the most suitable area for development, with a potential to implement at least 7,200 MW by 2022, while the Gulf El-Zayt area specifically has average wind speeds of 10.5 m/s.
• As of 2008, wind power generated only 0.7 per cent of Egypt's electricity supply, with a total installed capacity of 310 MW. Most of this capacity (305 MW) is located at the Zafarana site. Future plans aim for a substantial expansion to between 5,000 and 10,000 MW over the next 20 years.

APA

ElSobki, M., Wooders, P., & Sherif, Y. (2009). Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Wind power in Egypt. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/bali_2_copenhagen_egypt_wind.pdf

Chicago

ElSobki, Mohamed, Peter Wooders, and Yasser Sherif. Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Wind power in Egypt. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/bali_2_copenhagen_egypt_wind.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=ElSobki |first1=Mohamed |last2=Wooders |first2=Peter |last3=Sherif |first3=Yasser |title=Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Wind power in Egypt |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=October 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/bali_2_copenhagen_egypt_wind.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{elsobki2009clean, author = {ElSobki, Mohamed and Wooders, Peter and Sherif, Yasser}, title = {{Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Wind power in Egypt}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/bali_2_copenhagen_egypt_wind.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }