The Egyptian government has inaugurated the first phase of the 1.1 GW Obelisk solar + 100 MW/200 MWh BESS project in the Qena governorate, Egypt (Ahram Online, 12/01/2026). The first phase was completed in 13 months with a solar capacity of 500 MW, and it can deliver up to 200 MWh of battery energy storage. The second phase of the project, with a 500 MW capacity, is scheduled for completion later in 2026.
Once completed, the US$600m project is expected to reduce natural gas consumption by the equivalent of 21 TWh/year and to generate enough energy to power 1.65 million households and cut about 1.4 MtCO2/year of emissions.
The Obelisk solar power project is being developed by the Norwegian renewable group Scatec and is part of the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy’s NWFE programme to raise the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix to 42% by 2030.