Energy

El Gouna Red Sea, the flagship year-round destination developed by Orascom Development Egypt, which has officially announced the opening of its latest green infrastructure project, Solarize-2.

The global hospitality sector is undergoing a profound transformation, with green energy integration moving from a niche consideration to a core operational strategy.

In Egypt, the push for sustainable tourism and urban development is taking significant strides forward. Leading this shift along the coast is El Gouna Red Sea, the flagship year-round destination developed by Orascom Development Egypt, which has officially announced the opening of its latest green infrastructure project, Solarize-2.

This new solar power facility marks a pivotal milestone in the resort town’s long-term sustainability journey, cementing its position as a pioneer in eco-friendly coastal development. By investing heavily in renewable energy, the destination is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also setting a formidable benchmark for the broader regional tourism industry.

Scaling renewable capacity: The Solarize Projects

At the heart of El Gouna’s green transition is a phased approach to solar energy expansion. The newly commissioned Solarize-2 facility represents a substantial upgrade to the town’s local energy grid. Developed in strategic partnership with SolarizEgypt, this facility adds significant capacity to the existing infrastructure.

Key project details and figures include:

• An impressive 8.6 megawatts (MW) of new solar capacity added through the Solarize-2 facility.

• A foundational 7.2 MW of capacity already established by the initial Solarize-1 project.

• A cumulative installed solar capacity of 15.8 MW now powering the integrated resort town.

• A strategic target for El Gouna to source more than 15 per cent of its total local energy requirements from renewable sources throughout 2026.

These capacity increases are essential for a rapidly expanding destination. As El Gouna continues to attract more residents and tourists, its overall electricity demands will inevitably grow. Consequently, the town has already outlined plans for additional solar installations in the future, ensuring that the share of renewable energy scales harmoniously with the town's physical expansion.

Strategic partnerships and private investment

The transition to renewable energy relies heavily on robust collaboration between developers, energy specialists, and equity investors. The delivery of Solarize-2 is a testament to this collaborative model. Ayman Waheed, CEO of SolarizEgypt, noted that the successful operation of the second solar plant reflects the strength of the companies' long-standing partnership and demonstrates the potential to scale privately financed renewable-energy infrastructure.

Furthermore, Energya Industries played a critical role as a major equity investor and owner in the Solarize-2 asset. Representatives from Elsewedy added that Energya Industries aims to expand its presence across the energy value chain while investing in technologies and infrastructure for Egypt and the region. This private-sector involvement is crucial for delivering the large-scale capital required to transition entire resort towns away from fossil fuels.

Financing the sustainability journey

Behind the physical solar panels and operational milestones lies a sophisticated green financing strategy. Funding such ambitious infrastructure requires significant capital backing, and Orascom Development Egypt has actively sought out sustainable finance mechanisms to support its long-term vision.

Recently, this long-term investment strategy has included a $155 million sustainability-linked loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This substantial financial package incorporates stringent environmental and resource-efficiency targets, ensuring that the developer remains accountable to its ecological commitments. By aligning its financial obligations with its sustainability goals, the organisation is ensuring that environmental stewardship is embedded at the highest corporate level.

Setting a regional benchmark for green tourism

The broader implications of the Solarize-2 launch extend beyond the borders of El Gouna. As the global climate crisis intensifies, holidaymakers and property investors are increasingly prioritising destinations that demonstrate a genuine commitment to the environment. The Red Sea region, renowned for its fragile marine ecosystems, requires particularly sensitive development strategies.

By generating 15.8 MW of clean energy locally, El Gouna is actively reducing its reliance on traditional power grids and minimising greenhouse gas emissions. This proactive approach to eco-tourism proves that luxury travel and environmental responsibility can coexist. As the resort town continues to pioneer solar integration, it offers a replicable blueprint for other coastal developments. Ultimately, the successful commissioning of Solarize-2 serves as a powerful reminder that the future of travel and urban living must be fundamentally green.

Türkiye is definitively transforming into a clean energy and synthetic fuels powerhouse, serving as the essential green bridge for the EU-MENAT region.

The global transition towards zero-emission energy has reached a critical juncture, with nations racing to establish secure, sustainable supply chains.

Positioned at the geographical and economic crossroads of the world, the corridor connecting the European Union with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is rapidly emerging as a focal point for renewable infrastructure. Within this highly strategic landscape, a major development has been spotlighted. According to recent insights published by Dii Desert Energy, Turkey is definitively transforming into a clean energy and synthetic fuels powerhouse, serving as the essential green bridge for the EU-MENAT region.

Historically recognised as a pivotal transit hub for fossil fuels, Turkey is now aggressively rewriting its energy narrative. The nation is moving swiftly to capitalise on its vast wind and solar resources, aiming to pivot from a net energy importer to a formidable exporter of low-emission power. This transformation is not merely a domestic ambition; it is a critical enabler for European markets seeking reliable, decarbonised energy alternatives to meet stringent net-zero targets.

The 120 GW National Energy Plan

At the core of this monumental shift is Turkey’s highly ambitious National Energy Plan. Realising the urgent need to decarbonise and achieve energy independence, the government has set a definitive trajectory for the coming decade. The plan focuses extensively on scaling up domestic generation, fundamentally altering the national energy mix.

By the year 2035, the country aims to reach an impressive 120 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable capacity. To achieve this, the nation plans to quadruple its current solar and wind generation capabilities. Local wind production, in particular, is slated to take a leading role in this rapid expansion. By harnessing its natural meteorological advantages, Turkey intends to significantly diminish its historical reliance on imported carbon-intensive fuels, ensuring a resilient and sustainable domestic grid while unlocking export potential.

Upgrading the Grid: A $28 Billion Investment

Generating immense volumes of renewable energy is only the first step; transmitting and storing it requires robust, modernised infrastructure. Dii Desert Energy highlights that integrating this unprecedented scale of wind and solar into regional power systems demands meticulous coordination. To support the 2035 targets, Turkey has outlined a comprehensive $28 billion grid modernisation programme.

Key components of this massive infrastructure overhaul include:

• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): The deployment of 7.5 GW of large-scale battery capacity. This is the primary enabler for grid stability, managing the inherent intermittency of renewable sources and ensuring a consistent power supply.

• Green Hydrogen Electrolysers: The development of 5 GW of electrolyser capacity, which will establish the necessary foundation for a thriving, domestic green hydrogen economy.

• Common User Infrastructure (CUI): The strategic rollout of shared infrastructure to de-risk giga-scale renewable developments. This approach significantly lowers entry barriers for commercial project developers and accelerates deployment.

Pioneering the Synthetic Fuels Market

Beyond the direct transmission of green electricity, Turkey is strategically positioning itself as a global leader in the low-emission molecules sector. By marrying its expanding renewable capacity with advanced electrolyser technology, the country is laying the groundwork for the large-scale commercial production of green hydrogen and synthetic fuels.

To navigate the complex regulatory and financial landscape of this nascent industry, Turkey has engaged in high-level international collaborations. Working alongside institutions such as the World Bank, the nation is actively developing a comprehensive national hydrogen roadmap. This strategic framework is designed to overcome existing hurdles related to commercial offtake agreements and create an exceptionally favourable environment for international investment, ensuring that long-term green fuel projects are bankable and secure.

Uniting the EU-MENA Energy Divide

Ultimately, Turkey’s greatest asset remains its unique geopolitical positioning. As the European Union accelerates its decarbonisation efforts, the demand for cross-border clean energy imports is surging at an unprecedented rate. Meanwhile, the MENA region offers some of the most favourable conditions globally for low-cost renewable generation.

Through its $28 billion grid overhaul and unwavering commitment to green hydrogen, Turkey is cementing its role as the indispensable link between these two vital markets. By facilitating the seamless transfer of zero-emission power and synthetic fuels across continents, the nation is not just upgrading its own grid—it is actively driving the industrial green transformation of the entire region.

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), which has released its 13th Annual Sustainability Report. This momentous increase successfully avoided 19.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions globally.

The global transition towards sustainable infrastructure is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with 2025 marking a defining year for international decarbonisation efforts.

Leading this expansion is Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), which has released its 13th Annual Sustainability Report. This momentous increase successfully avoided 19.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions globally.

This upward trajectory reflects the continued expansion of the company’s global operating projects. Including a further 20.7GW from secured developments or those nearing final investment approval, the total portfolio reached 66.5GW by the end of 2025.

The 2025 reporting boundary was broadened to include Saeta Yield and TERNA ENERGY for the first time. Key highlights include: It establishes a vital global blueprint, demonstrating how combined solar and battery storage can provide continuous, reliable power at a commercial scale.

Attracting Green Finance and International Investment

Financial markets responded enthusiastically to these global sustainability initiatives.$1 billion green bond in May. This issuance was oversubscribed by 6.6 times, attracting investor orders totalling US$6.6 billion, with international investors securing 85 per cent of the bonds.

This brought the total value of outstanding green bonds to US$2.75 billion. Biodiversity protection was significantly strengthened via the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), encompassing 23 targeted surveys and three conservation partnerships. Meanwhile, the Emiratisation rate reached approximately 46 per cent (excluding international operations), and teams globally completed 250,000 hours of health, safety, and environmental training.

GE Vernova Inc. has officially announced a new services agreement aimed at providing Rotor Life Extension (RLE) solutions for five of its 9F gas turbines in Egypt.

GE Vernova Inc. has officially announced a new services agreement aimed at providing Rotor Life Extension (RLE) solutions for five of its 9F gas turbines in Egypt.

This comprehensive project actively supports the overall rotor lifecycle by thoroughly utilising GE Vernova’s vast technical expertise to determine the full residual life of various components.

“This agreement reflects EEHC’s continued focus on preserving the long-term performance and reliability of important generation assets across our fleet,” said Eng. Gaber El-Desouki, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC). “By working with GE Vernova and our generation companies, we are taking practical and proactive steps that can help protect strategic assets, support efficient and reliable power production, and contribute to Egypt’s broader electricity and energy objectives.”

The sentiment is echoed by other key stakeholders who recognise the operational value of maintaining current infrastructure rather than pursuing expensive overhauls.

“Extending the life of these gas turbines across our generation companies is expected to support grid stability and the continued availability of dispatchable power, while helping us increase the value of existing infrastructure and avoid premature, capital-intensive replacement,” said Eng. Mahmoud Al-Naqeeb, Full-time Board Member for Electricity Production Companies Affairs.

A Legacy of Strategic Collaboration

This agreement underscores the robust, ongoing collaboration between GE Vernova, the EEHC, and its various generation affiliates.

By continuously reinforcing its role in meeting the nation's energy demands through advanced technology, GE Vernova is helping ensure that Egypt remains well-powered for decades to come.