• The museum is powered by four solar stations totaling 1.315 MW, producing 2.24 GWh of electricity annually.

• The project, co-financed by UNDP and JICA, will cut about 100,600 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.

• The initiative aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030, which targets up to 65% emissions reduction in oil and gas by 2030.

Egypt inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza on November 1, marking not only a major cultural milestone but also a significant step in the country’s energy transition strategy. The museum is the first in Africa and the Arab world to be powered entirely by solar energy, showcasing Egypt’s ambition to merge heritage preservation with environmental sustainability.

The Industrial Modernization Center (IMC) oversaw the installation of four photovoltaic stations on the museum site, with a total capacity of 1.315 megawatts. The system, jointly funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will generate 2.24 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and prevent approximately 100,600 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The IMC described the project as “a successful example of cooperation between national institutions and international partners to accelerate the green transition.” The solar-powered museum forms part of Egypt’s national green economy program and its Vision 2030 strategy, which promotes low-carbon growth.

Located near the Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The complex, under construction for more than two decades, houses over 50,000 artifacts and stands as both a tribute to ancient Egypt and a symbol of the country’s modern sustainability goals.

In June 2023, Egypt submitted its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), pledging to cut emissions in the electricity sector by 37%, in oil and gas by 65%, and in transport by 7% by 2030, contingent on international support.

This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum