FROM WIND-SWEPT DESERT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY	25/06/2010
	The largest wind power project yet seen in Egypt to be established in a wind-swept desert region near the Red Sea, to the north of the tourist resort of Hurghada. Over the next seven years, Grontmij | Carl Bro will be the client consultant on a new large-scale 200 MW wind energy project to be built in El Zayt in Egypt. The project, to become the area’s first wind-mill project of such proportions, will be financed by the Egyptian state, by EIB and by the German development bank KfW. Situated130 km to the north of the resort city of Hurghada, the project area is currently nothing but wind-swept desert with the Red Sea highway as its nearest neighbour. Hence, infrastructure elements – such as high-voltage system, transformer station and facilities for the operational staff – must be developed from scratch. Huge potential in wind resources In Egypt, the Red Sea costal region to the south of the Suez represents an area of vast wind resources. As early as in the beginning of the 1980s, the wind potential of the desert area bordering the Red Sea was estimated to more than 20,000 MW. Several large-scale wind-farm projects are being planned for the Red Sea area – financially supported in part from abroad and in part by private investors. In addition, a future expansion to the west of the Nile is being planned. Sine the 1990s, Grontmij | Carl Bro has been a participant in projects focused on the development of wind energy and, also, in the establishment of wind farms in the desert to the south of the Suez in the vicinity of the small coastal town of Zafarana.   EFFICIENT PROJECT ORGANISATION Grontmij | Carl Bro will be responsible for project design, tendering and contracting, supervision during establishment, launching, and for supervision in El Zayt during the period of warranty. Grontmij | Carl Bro is the principal consultant and the work will be carried out in association with a local consultant and Danish subconsultants attached to the project which also comprises a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) documentation and the implementation of counter measures with respect to the many migratory birds travelling through the area twice a year – in huge numbers and at relative low altitudes.