Norwegian renewable energy developer Scatec has brought its Obelisk solar-plus-storage project in Egypt to full commercial operation, marking the completion of what is being described as Africa's largest solar-plus-storage installation to date.

Project Scale and Structure

The Obelisk project reaches a combined solar generating capacity of 1.1 gigawatts, paired with a battery energy storage system (BESS) rated at 100 MW with 200 MWh of total storage capacity. Scatec confirmed that commercial operations have now begun at the second and final phase of the development, bringing the entire facility online. The total investment in the project stands at $590 million, reflecting the capital intensity of utility-scale renewable infrastructure at this size.

Long-Term Power Supply Agreement

Under the terms of a 25-year power purchase agreement, the electricity generated by Obelisk will be supplied to Egypt, providing a multi-decade revenue stream and long-term clean energy delivery to the country's grid. Agreements of this duration are common in large-scale renewable projects in emerging markets, where they provide the revenue certainty needed to secure project financing.

Egypt's Renewable Energy Ambitions

The completion of Obelisk arrives as Egypt works toward its 2030 renewable energy targets. The project's scale — combining gigawatt-level solar generation with grid-scale battery storage — positions it as a significant contributor to those national goals. Battery storage paired with large solar arrays helps address the intermittency of solar generation, allowing power to be dispatched beyond daylight hours and improving grid reliability. The 200 MWh BESS component is intended to provide that flexibility within Egypt's broader electricity system.

Continental Benchmark

Beyond its national significance, Obelisk is being characterized as the largest solar-plus-storage project on the African continent, underscoring both the scale of the development and the relatively nascent state of utility-scale storage deployment across Africa. For Scatec, the project's completion represents a flagship achievement in a region where the company has been expanding its renewable energy portfolio.