Egypt to hike renewables to 42 percent in pursuit of its 2030 renewable energy plan

Egypt is committed to expanding its renewable energy generation with the goal of having clean energy account for 42 percent of its energy mix by 2030.

To achieve this, the North African country is banking on strong technological and investment partnerships with China.

Officials say 2025 marked Egypt's most successful year yet in expanding renewable energy capacity. The country added 5.6 gigawatts of renewable energy to its national electricity grid, with nearly half of that coming from solar power. Authorities also announced 11.2 gigawatts in production bids and are planning new projects that could raise renewable energy production capacity to about 28 gigawatts in coming phases.

"The Egyptian renewable energy market is at an all-time high. We are moving from pilot projects to mega-scale projects, and the private sector is deeply involved in this policy and industry," said Ayman Haiba, chairman of the Sustainable Energy Development Association.

Energy experts say the country's climate gives it a major advantage for solar energy production. It experiences strong solar radiation almost year-round, with sunlight available for up to 11 hours per day, making large-scale solar investments highly attractive.  

Haiba revealed that China has emerged as a key strategic partner in Egypt's renewable energy transformation. Industry stakeholders say that 80 percent to 90 percent of renewable energy components used in Egypt originate from Chinese manufacturers.

Abdelmesseh Saman, professor of environmental studies at Ain Shams University, attributed this to Egypt's vast land area, solar radiation available almost year-round, and minimal rainfall or cloud cover. Daylight can last up to 11 hours a day. All of these factors make solar energy a viable option in Egypt.

Across Egypt and in the Chinese Industrial Zone on the Suez Canal, more than 3 billion US dollars of Chinese investments have been announced to onshore the manufacturing of equipment essential for renewable energy.

That includes production lines for wafers and silicon ingots, glass for solar cells, and lithium batteries to make solar power more sustainable.