Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) has invited expressions of interest from consultants to carry out a technical feasibility study for a 200MW wind farm in the Gulf of Suez.

Firms have until 20 January to respond to the tender. The winning consultant will collect 12 months’ wind data along and complete a wind turbine market survey.

It will also undertake a geotechnical investigation study, topographical survey, electrical grid impact assessment, conceptual design, capital and operational expenditure estimates, risk and opportunities assessment and project implementation schedule.

Firms have until 20 January to respond to the tender. The winning consultant will collect 12 months’ wind data

The project has secured funding from the African Development Bank for the cost of preparation activities and capacity building related to the project.

The wind farm will be built alongside a series of similar projects in the coastline west of the Gulf of Suez. The 250-kilometre stretch from Wadi Abu Genifat to Gulf of El-Zayt has some of the best wind conditions in the world.

Hurghada, located south of El-Zayt was selected as a test site for the country’s first wind farms, which have been online since 1993.

The project was followed by an ambitious programme at Zafarana towards the northern end of the wind corridor. The installed wind capacity at Zafarana currently stands at 425MW. This figure is set to more than treble over the next five years.