• Egypt signed $1.8 billion in solar and battery storage agreements with Scatec and Sungrow.

• The deals include Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage project and a battery factory in the Suez Canal zone.

• The agreements support Egypt’s target of 42% renewable energy in its power mix by 2030.

On Sunday, January 11, Egyptian state television announced the signing of two renewable energy agreements between Egypt, Norway’s Scatec, and China’s Sungrow. The agreements amount to a combined value of $1.8 billion.

The first agreement consists of a 25-year power purchase contract between the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company and Scatec. The contract covers a total capacity of 1.95 gigawatts of solar power and around 3.9 gigawatt-hours of battery energy storage systems. The agreement includes a hybrid solar-storage project designed to deliver near-continuous electricity. The deal also includes two standalone battery projects intended to provide grid stability services.

The main project will be located in the Minya governorate in Upper Egypt. The project combines a large-scale photovoltaic plant with batteries capable of discharging electricity over several hours. This configuration smooths power output and reduces reliance on thermal power plants. Scatec will handle engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance while remaining the lead developer. By scale, the project represents the largest solar-plus-storage complex developed in Africa.

“The signing of this contract further consolidates Scatec’s position as a leading player and its commitment to delivering reliable renewable energy at scale in Africa,” said Terje Pilskog, the company’s chief executive officer. “By integrating cutting-edge solar and battery storage technologies, we deliver sustainable electricity to Egypt on a near-continuous basis, as well as grid stabilization services, supporting both the country’s energy transition and the region’s long-term economic development.”

The second agreement with Sungrow, a major battery storage technology provider, provides for the construction of a battery manufacturing plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Sungrow will allocate part of the production to solar projects developed by Scatec. For Cairo, the agreement carries both industrial and energy significance. The Sungrow investment aims to capture more local value added, secure battery supply, and lay the foundations for a national energy storage ecosystem.

The two deals rely on distinct but complementary approaches. Together, they reflect a shift in Egypt’s energy strategy. The country no longer focuses solely on adding renewable capacity. Instead, Egypt seeks to integrate generation, storage, and industrial development to build a more stable and controllable power system.

This article was initially published in French by Olivier de Souza

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum