Egypt plans to increase its solar power capacity by 144 percent and wind capacity by 400 percent by 2029, while raising total renewable energy capacity above 29,700 MW, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat said on Thursday.

The ministry also aims to increase battery storage capacity to 14,320 megawatt-hours (MWh) by 2029.

The targets are part of the ministry's 2026–2029 strategy to expand renewable energy generation, develop battery-based storage, upgrade supporting infrastructure, and strengthen international partnerships.

Esmat announced the targets during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to review current and planned renewable energy projects.

Egypt is working to secure electricity supplies amid rising consumption and continuing geopolitical tensions, while seeking to raise the share of renewable energy in the power mix to 45 percent by 2028 and strengthen its position as a renewable energy hub.

The energy sector is also one of the five priority sectors identified in Egypt's economic development narrative as the government seeks to attract more foreign investment.

Egypt's existing electricity storage capacity stands at around 1,100 MWh.

Solar energy remains a main pillar of the country’s renewable energy system, with Egypt ranking third among Africa's 10 largest solar markets in 2025.

Wind energy also makes a significant contribution to the national grid, while hydropower remains a stable component of the energy mix, Esmat said.

The minister also reported improvements in fuel consumption rates in 2026 compared with 2014, attributing the gains to higher operational efficiency and technical upgrades to the electricity grid under the summer 2026 development plan.

The plan included adding 3,000 MW of solar capacity and 600 MW of battery storage ahead of summer 2026 to improve infrastructure efficiency, modernize the grid, and strengthen its stability, while providing greater flexibility to respond to emergencies and sudden increases in demand.

The national grid handled a record peak load of 40,200 MW during an August heatwave that drove electricity consumption to unprecedented levels.

Last week, Egypt allocated nearly EGP 37 billion to upgrade and expand the national transmission network and increase its capacity to accommodate new generation and renewable energy projects.

Around 2,500 MW of renewable energy capacity is also expected to be added to the national grid in 2026.

The ministry is meanwhile working on green hydrogen and seawater desalination projects, including a desalination complex in Dabaa designed as an integrated system serving the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and surrounding areas.

Egypt is also developing other desalination projects linked to existing power plants to secure sustainable sources of desalinated water and localize related technologies and industries in cooperation with international partners.