Two PV projects totalling 130MW commissioned as part of the 1.8GW Benban complex

EDF Renewables and the Elsewedy Electric Group have commissioned two solar farms in Egypt with a combined capacity of 130MW.

The 65MW-each plants in Benban have a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.

They form part of the Benban solar complex, which will eventually have capacity totalling close to 1.8GW.

Both projects were developed as part of the second phase of the national electricity feed-in tariff programme launched by the Egyptian government.

They received funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Proparco.

EDF Renewables chief executive Bruno Bensasson said: “We are proud to be playing our part in delivering the large-scale Benban solar complex by commissioning these two solar power plants.

“With the establishment of our new subsidiary in Cairo, we have reached a major milestone in EDF Renewables’ long-term development in Egypt and across the North African renewable energy market as a whole.”