Center of Excellence for Energy’s Technology Center to Serve Egypt’s Energy Sector and Drive Sustainable Impact
CAIRO, EGYPT – November 21, 2024 – The USAID-funded Center of Excellence for Energy (COE/E), led by Arizona State University, recently sponsored an educational visit to the Gabel El Zeit Wind Farm for students enrolled in the Wind Energy course at Ain Shams University. This initiative aimed to provide students with practical exposure to advanced wind energy technologies and real-world applications of their academic studies.
Situated along the Red Sea coast and operated by the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), Gabel El Zeit Wind Farm is one of Egypt’s largest renewable energy projects, featuring over 700 turbines with a total capacity of 580 MW. The field trip was designed to enhance students’ understanding of wind energy systems and support their academic learning through hands-on experiences.
This activity supports the Center of Excellence for Energy’s efforts to increase higher education capacity in energy through curriculum development, research innovation, and increased partnerships between higher education, the energy industry, and governmental agencies. It also highlights the center’s commitment to support Egypt’s goal of achieving 42% renewable energy by 2035.
The visit was overseen by Ain Shams University faculty member Dr. Ashraf Mostafa, who accompanied 30 students, 10 of whom were female, from the Energy and Renewable Energy program. Students explored turbine operations, learning about blades, gearboxes, generators, and control systems, while observing the step-by-step process of converting wind energy into electricity.
“This site visit to Gabel El Zeit has an important impact on the students, as it shortens the gap between the theoretical knowledge offered by the Faculty and the real-life practical applications offered by the wind farm,” said Dr. Ashraf Mostafa, Ain Shams University faculty member who oversaw the visit. “I always encourage students to participate in such site visits to enhance their practical skills and better understand real-life applications.”
“The field visit gave me a deeper insight about the construction and operation of wind turbines, especially by having the chance to attend the beneficial session provided by the site engineer,” said Yousef Hedayah, one of the participating students.
The Gabel El Zeit Wind Farm visit also included live demonstrations of turbine maintenance practices and detailed explanations of Egypt’s Wind Atlas, emphasizing the Gulf of El-Zayt as a prime location for wind energy development due to its optimal wind conditions. Students engaged in a Q&A session to discuss challenges in wind farm operations and plans for future renewable energy projects in Egypt.
“The insights and real-world observations through the field visit may open up new research ideas to solve any problem that has been encountered throughout the wind turbine’s operation,” Hedayah added.
This visit helped students see their coursework come to life by connecting theoretical concepts with practical exposure, gaining invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities within Egypt’s renewable energy sector.
The Center of Excellence for Energy, funded by USAID and operated by Arizona State University in partnership with Ain Shams University, Mansoura University, and Aswan University, continues to support Egypt’s energy transition goals. By fostering academic-industry collaboration and providing experiential learning opportunities, the COE/E equips the next generation of engineers with the skills and knowledge needed to lead Egypt’s renewable energy sector.
For more information on the center’s activities, visit the Center of Excellence for Energy.
The Center of Excellence for Energy is funded by USAID with the support of the American people with a goal to help Egypt reach its target of 42% renewable energy by 2035 and position the country as a regional leader in clean energy. The center is operated by Arizona State University in partnership with three Egyptian universities: Ain Shams, Mansoura, and Aswan.
The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide.
This announcement is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Center of Excellence for Energy and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
# # #