Scatec has completed the Obelisk project in Egypt.The site reached its commercial operation date.The final step added 564 megawatts of solar power.The entire plant now yields 1.1 gigawatts of solar energy.It also has a 100 megawatt and 200 megawatt-hour battery system.This work makes the site Africa’s largest hybrid solar and storage complex. The build moved very fast. The firm signed the power purchase deal in late 2024. Works finished in record time.
The project was built in two steps.The first phase set up 561 megawatts of solar power.That stage also built the full battery unit.The second phase added the final solar panels to double the power grid. This match of sun power and batteries earns the site its top rank. Egypt now holds the spot for the biggest hybrid green setup in Africa.
Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog praised the outcome.He called the event a defining milestone for the firm.He said it shows the group can plan, fund, and finish big clean energy sites in growing markets. The project took under two years from paper deal to full power. That timeline sets a new mark for green power builds in the region.
The site is built near Nagaa Hammadi in Upper Egypt.It will generate over 3,000 gigawatt-hours of power each year.It will supply clean power to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.The supply deal spans 25 years.The deal uses US dollars for trade stability.The plant cuts more than 1.2 million tons of carbon pollution per year. This helps national goals to lower smoke from old gas plants.
Solar power can shift with the weather. The large battery fixes that flaw. The battery stores extra power during noon hours. It feeds the power back into the lines at night. This keeps the power flow smooth when demand is high. It stops blackouts and lowers stress on the main power lines.
Scatec runs the site as the main owner.It works with key money groups.The National Bank of Egypt holds a stake.Norfund and EDF Power Solutions hold shares too.Loans came from global lenders like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.The African Development Bank and British International Investment also helped fund the build.
Egypt aims to source 42 percent of its power from clean roots by 2030. This new setup is a giant leap for that plan. It gives cheap, steady green power to millions of homes and local firms. The site also created hundreds of local construction jobs during the speed build. Local crews will stay on to run and fix the panels and batteries for years to come.
The victory shows how public funds and private money can mix well. Norway and France backed the effort through equity arms. Their aid helps cut market risks in developing regions. That cash model offers a guide for future clean power projects across North Africa and the Middle East.
Scatec now has 1.5 gigawatts of green power running in Egypt.That total counts the 380 megawatt Benban solar park.The firm plans to add more than 4 gigawatts of clean projects in the country over the next few years.Those plans will include more battery units to aid the national grid.
Africa faces high growth in power needs. Projects like Obelisk point to a bright path forward.Sun power matched with batteries gives steady electricity at low cost.The successful build in Egypt sets a model for green energy across the continent. It shows large clean energy systems can be built fast to solve real power needs.
