Egypt is planning to invite a second round of feed-in tariff proposals for wind projects from 20MW to 50MW in mid-2015, according to Mohamed Salah Elsobki, executive chairman of the National Renewable Energy Authority (NREA).

“We received 50 per cent more solar PV proposals than our target of 2300MW, but for wind projects we only reached 80 per cent of the 2000MW target, or around 1700MW,” said Elsobki on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit. “We have land allocated in Zafarana for another 250MW of projects, so we will look for more proposals when some wind projects, depending on the rate of financing and execution.”

Consortiums which have been prequalified under the first round are now racing to incorporate special project vehicles and make payments to transmission and distribution companies, who will then be responsible for grid connections. Only when these transactions are complete can approvals be granted.

“We will keep the same feed-in tariff for wind due to the moderate interest,” says Elsobki. “They are guaranteed by the Finance Ministry and Central Bank, who have set up an escrow account. 15 per cent will be paid in Egyptian pounds based on currency rates as the contract is signed, with the remaining 85 per cent based on current exchange rates.”

Egypt is also planning to establish a feed-in tariff for waste to energy projects.