Latest news with #TerjePilskog
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Solar and batteries could help Egypt beat its blackouts
Egypt's first large-scale hybrid solar and battery plant has begun construction as the country looks to its abundant sunshine to help fix its energy crisis. Obelisk, located in Nagaa Hammadi, will combine 1.1 gigawatts of solar production with 200 megawatt hours of battery storage. The $590 million project is being built by Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy company mostly working in emerging markets. Scatec already has four other renewable projects in Egypt, and the north African country is aiming to increase its share of renewable production from 13% in 2023, to 42% by 2030. Prev Next Around three quarters of Egypt's electricity comes from gas. But in recent years, as its domestic gas production fell, it became reliant on imports and rising gas prices plunged Egypt into a series of blackouts. Renewable projects are becoming increasingly attractive to emerging economies, which tend to be hit the hardest by rising fuel prices, Terje Pilskog, CEO of Scatec told CNN. 'With renewables, you are not dependent on importing fuels,' he said. 'It is also about predictability.' Sixty percent of the world's best land for solar development is in Africa, according to the industry body Global Solar Council, but in 2023, only 3% of the continent's energy came from solar. In 2024, 75% of all new solar projects were built in South Africa or Egypt, however 18 countries across Africa have the potential to install more than 100 MW solar projects in 2025, compared to two in 2024. The continent is aiming to reach 300 GW of solar capacity by 2030, which is more than the current capacity of the US. Although Egypt is looking for new domestic gas resources, it has set ambitious renewable energy targets, and hosted the COP27 climate conference in 2022. But the driving force behind these new renewable projects is economic, not environmental, said Karem Elgendy, executive director of Carboun Institute Elgendy, an energy and climate think tank for the Middle East and North Africa. With an overreliance on gas, and with declining production from its flagship Zohr gas field, Egypt is struggling to keep the lights on. Egypt issued a tender to import nearly two million tons of fuel oil in May and June to meet its electricity needs as gas imports became too expensive. The summer brings high demand, as air conditioning units are turned on to combat the intense heat – average highs can reach 42 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) in the south. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly recently urged people to curb their energy usage to avoid blackouts. Whilst Egypt's summer heat increases its electricity demand, it could also offer a solution. The south of Egypt, where Scatec's new project is breaking ground is 'in the magic solar belt,' said Elgendy. According to the Global Solar Atlas, Egypt has the fourth-highest solar PV (photovoltaic) potential of any country. Historically, solar energy has been hampered by its intermittency — solar panels only work during the day and large-scale battery storage has been too expensive. However, falling battery prices, combined with the lower operational and installation costs of solar power means that projects that combine solar generation with battery storage, like Obelisk, could overcome this problem. Because of its size and prime location, Obelisk, Elgendy said, 'can demonstrate value for the rest of the region, for the rest of the world, that 'solar plus batteries' can take away this primary weakness.' The cost of battery storage projects has dropped by 89% between 2010 and 2023, driven by growing production capacity, especially in China. This drop, Elgendy said, means that by 2027 solar plus battery plants will be 'the cheapest form of (any kind of electricity) generation.' A report by the Global Solar Council said that the availability of energy storage is a 'major driver for increased solar installations globally.' However, whilst global battery storage capacity hit 363 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2024, Africa only has 1.6 GWh. Whilst battery prices have dropped and solar is cheap to operate, these plants still need large investments to build, and the money can be hard to find, Elgendy said, adding that the 'risk premium' of investing in the developing world means that these projects are more expensive to build in Africa. The continent attracted only 3% of global energy investments in 2024. Obelisk will receive $479.1 million in funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank, and British International Investment. The first 561 MW of solar power and the full battery capacity are due to be online in the first half of 2026, and reach the full 1.1 gigawatt capacity by the end of the year.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scatec's Obelisk solar project in Egypt attains financial close
Renewable energy solutions provider Scatec has reached financial close for its Obelisk hybrid solar and battery storage project in Egypt, which is to be delivered in two phases. Scatec will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), asset management (AM), and operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the Obelisk project, with the EPC scope accounting for roughly 70% of the total capex. The non-recourse project financing includes $479.1m provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), African Development Bank (AfDB), and British International Investment (BII). The amount covers approximately 80% of the total estimated capital expenditure of $590m. Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog said: 'Reaching financial close for this project marks a major milestone for Scatec. It proves our ability to deliver large-scale hybrid projects. "We are proud to partner with leading development finance institutions to support Egypt's clean energy ambitions, and we look forward to delivering this important project together with our partners.' The project's first phase comprises 561MW of solar power and 100MW/200MWh of battery storage. It is expected to reach commercial operational date (COD) in the first half of 2026. The second phase will add another 564MW of solar capacity in the latter half of the same year. Under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), the generated energy will be sold in US dollars and is backed by a sovereign guarantee. Scatec previously secured equity bridge loans (EBL) totalling $120m for the project, which allows for the postponement of project equity injections until the end of the construction period. Furthermore, the company is in advanced talks with potential equity partners, with the expectation that these discussions will conclude in the coming months. "Scatec's Obelisk solar project in Egypt attains financial close" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scatec signs PPA for 900MW wind project in Egypt
Scatec has entered a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) for the 900MW Shadwan wind power project. The agreement, signed through Scatec's dedicated project company Shadwan Wind Power, aims to strengthen Egypt's transition towards a sustainable renewable energy mix. The wind power project will be located in Ras Shukeir, recognised for some of the world's most favourable conditions for onshore wind power generation. Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog stated: 'This project is a testament to Scatec's position as one of the leading renewables companies in Egypt. 'We are now advancing four major renewables projects in the country, with a diversified technology base. I would like to thank all parties involved for making this happen, with a particular acknowledgement to the skills and persistence of our Egyptian team.' Comprehensive wind measurements will shortly be conducted at the site. These measurements are scheduled to conclude in the first quarter of 2026. In a related development, Scatec has announced the closure of a non-recourse project financing of $479.1m for the 1.1GW Obelisk solar and battery storage project being developed in the Nagaa Hammadi region of Egypt. The financing is being provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and British International Investment (BII). The financing amount represents 80% of the total estimated capital expenditure of $590m. The Obelisk solar project will be developed in two phases, with the first phase comprising 561MW of solar power and 100MW/200 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage. It is expected to achieve its commercial operational date in the first half of 2026. The second phase, which will add 564MW of solar capacity, is scheduled for completion in the latter half of 2026. The generated energy from the project will be sold under a 25-year PPA with the EETC. Scatec has previously secured equity bridge loans amounting to $120m for the project. Pilskog stated: 'Reaching financial close for this project marks a major milestone for Scatec. It proves our ability to deliver large-scale hybrid projects. 'We are proud to partner with leading development finance institutions to support Egypt's clean energy ambitions, and we look forward to delivering this important project together with our partners.' In early June 2025, Scatec was awarded preferred bidder status for the 123MW/492MWh Haru battery energy storage system project in South Africa. "Scatec signs PPA for 900MW wind project in Egypt" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scatec reaches financial close for the 1.1GW solar + 100MW/200MWh BESS Obelisk project
Oslo/Cairo, 15 June 2025: Scatec ASA has reached financial close for the 'Obelisk' hybrid solar and battery storage project in Egypt. The non-recourse project financing comprises USD 479.1 million provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), African Development Bank (AfDB), and British International Investment (BII). The financing amount corresponds to approximately 80% of total estimated capex of USD 590 million. 'Reaching financial close for this project marks a major milestone for Scatec. It proves our ability to deliver large-scale hybrid projects. We are proud to partner with leading development finance institutions to support Egypt's clean energy ambitions, and we look forward to delivering this important project together with our partners,' says Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog. The project will be constructed in two phases. The first phase of 561 MW solar + 100 MW/200 MWh battery storage is targeted to reach commercial operational date (COD) in the first half of 2026. The second phase of 564 MW solar in the second half of 2026. The energy will be sold under a USD-denominated 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), backed by a sovereign guarantee. Scatec has previously signed equity bridge loans (EBL) of USD 120 million for the project, postponing the project equity injections to the end of the construction period. The company is also in advanced discussions with potential equity partners, expected to conclude in the next few months. Scatec will deliver Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Asset Management (AM), and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services for the project. Scatec's EPC scope is approximately 70% of total capex. For further information, please contact:For analysts and investors:Andreas Austrell, SVP 974 38 686 For media:Meera Bhatia, SVP External Affairs & 468 44 959 About Scatec Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets. As a long-term player, we develop, build, own, and operate renewable energy plants, with 6.2 GW in operation and under construction across five continents today. We are committed to grow our renewable energy capacity, delivered by our passionate employees and partners who are driven by a common vision of 'Improving our Future'. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'SCATC'. To learn more, visit or connect with us on LinkedIn. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act This stock exchange announcement was published by Brage Krogsrud, Investor Relations at Scatec ASA, on 15 June 2025 at 16:03 CESTError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scatec signs PPA for 900MW onshore wind project in Egypt
Oslo/Cairo, 15 June 2025: Scatec ASA, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, has signed a USD-denominated 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) for a 900 MW wind project, through its dedicated project company 'Shadwan Wind Power SAE' to accelerate Egypt's transition towards a greener and more sustainable energy mix. 'This project is a testament to Scatec's position as one of the leading renewables companies in Egypt. We are now advancing four major renewables projects in the country, with a diversified technology base. I would like to thank all parties involved for making this happen with a particular acknowledgement to the skills and persistence of our Egyptian team' says Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog. The project will be located in Ras Shukeir, which has some of the worlds' best wind resources for onshore wind power. The signing of the PPA will be followed by wind measurements on the site, to be finalised in the first half of 2026, before the project is further advanced towards financial close and construction. For further information, please contact:For analysts and investors:Andreas Austrell, SVP 974 38 686 For media:Meera Bhatia, SVP External Affairs & 468 44 959 About Scatec Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, accelerating access to reliable and affordable clean energy in emerging markets. As a long-term player, we develop, build, own, and operate renewable energy plants, with 6.2 GW in operation and under construction across five continents today. We are committed to grow our renewable energy capacity, delivered by our passionate employees and partners who are driven by a common vision of 'Improving our Future'. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'SCATC'. To learn more, visit or connect with us on LinkedIn. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
