Nov 26 2010
International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC), which conducted a survey on the ideal location for wind power development, declared that nearly 38.46% of the respondents, selected South Africa and around 23.08% responders chose Egypt as their preferred location.
According to Riaan Smit, who works in the South African utility company Eskom, as Chief Engineer Network Planning, the feed-in-tariff structure introduced by National Energy Regulator (NERSA) of South Africa to achieve 10 TWh power production by 2013 has made the difference.
Egypt, the other African country has unveiled its plans to set up its first private funded and owned wind farm in the Gulf of Suez by 2013. The country also has objectives to generate 20% of its required power from wind energy farms. According to Mohab Hallouda who works at the World Bank as Senior Energy Specialist, the Gulf of Suez has excellent potential to set up wind farms. A number of wind projects that are under various stages are anticipated to build a number of wind parks to achieve a production capability of around 2,000 MW.
The IQPC sponsored Wind Power Development and Implementation conference, which is taking place in Cairo, Egypt during 12 to 15th December 2010, will witness participants and speakers from both Cairo and South Africa. Dr. Hisham El Agamawy, Energy Advisor of Egypt’s Ministry of State for Environment Affairs, called the conference as important for the investing companies and bankers, researchers and decision takers in the governments to understand the clean energy policies followed in different countries and take appropriate decision in their respective areas. The event is sponsored by leading wind companies, such as Siemens, Gamesa, Vestas, SGS, Goldwind and GL Garrad Hassan.