Green hydrogen plant launches in Egypt during COP27's second day

CAIRO — On the second day of COP-27 Climate Change conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, several events discussed the most stringent measures capable of confronting global warming, as state leaders shared their countries’ experiences with clean energy.

An opening ceremony was held in the Blue Zone, where all the negotiations amongst state leaders are set to take place. Three roundtables addressed food security, just transition, and innovative finance for climate and development.

Six roundtable sessions about climate change are scheduled over the course of two days.

During today’s sessions, Egypt launched the first phase of the first project to produce green hydrogen in the economic zone of the Suez Canal.

President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi expressed his delight at the project, which will be implemented in cooperation with the Norwegian energy giant Scatec. Green hydrogen, he said, “represents a real opportunity for economic development that is compatible with efforts to confront climate change and the Paris Agreement goals.”  

In an exclusive statement to Al-Monitor, Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker explained the details of Egypt’s memorandum of understanding for a major wind power project between the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, the New and Renewable Energy Authority and the Norwegian company Scatec-ASA.

Shaker explained that Scatec ASA and the project company, which will be established in Egypt, will be allowed to conduct the necessary preliminary technical studies and handle the land plot measurements to establish the project, with a capacity of five gigawatts.

Up to 16 memoranda of understanding will be signed in the field of green hydrogen production on the sidelines of the climate summit, Shaker said.

The minister also said that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are implementing a project to exchange power between the two countries, and an agreement was signed today to invest Saudi capital in establishing renewable energy plants capable of producing 1,100 megawatts. Egypt intends to increase its supply of renewable electricity to 42% by 2035.

In parallel with the COP27 sessions, World Youth Forum activities were held at the Roman Theater in the Green Zone. Today, the “Shabab Balad” initiative held a joint discussion between UNICEF and the International Labor Organization to improve youth skills and promote green jobs, while focusing on Egyptian initiatives in this field.

Environmental activists of several nationalities organized a demonstration under the slogan “vegetarianism is the solution.” Another demonstration today at the main entrance to the Blue Zone called for environmental rights and for an end to meat consumption, since meat has a high carbon footprint.

The conference will run from Nov. 6-18 in Sharm el-Sheikh under the presidency of the Egyptian state. The conference brings the countries of the world together to work in compliance with the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.