As a first instance in Egypt, a private wind-energy farm will be involved in a project with Suez Cement, to provide electricity through wind-turbines, for producing cement which would then be used for civil construction around the country. In a country where the nation’s budgets are on a shoe-string existence, but has a sizeable population to support, this project is expected to play a significant part in producing low-cost electricity and building the country’s infrastructure, after the recent civil unrest.
Italcementi, an Italian corporation, that has presence in over 22 countries worldwide and has business a number of business interests including cement and renewable energy is the prime force behind this project. Italigen, the energy arm of the conglomerate, is the firm involved with constructing and operating the $200 million wind-mill farm that is stated to produce 120 MW of electricity.
But the non eco-friendly irony is that a chunk of the power generated by the wind farm, will be used to produce cement for Suez Cement, that is expected to generate more than 250,000 tones of harmful carbon emissions. With a heavy burden to the existing resources, this wind farm shall provide some degree of relief as the source of power will be renewable energy (wind-energy), but looking at the larger picture, it would do more harm than any good to the country’s environment, especially the Red Sea along which the cement manufacturing unit is based.
With the Egyptian revolution towards democracy making headlines across the world, it left the North African nation with a lot to desire for to rebuild itself again. Most of the cities face a grim look in terms of their infrastructure and architectural skyline, and the left-over’s of the existing resources has the authorities looking for ways to decrease the pressure on infrastructure, and find new ways to meet the country’s energy requirements.
The underlying concept of the project, Wind-Energy shall play a very significant role towards producing renewable energy and self-sustenance of large industrial projects in the country, the fundamental requirement towards resurgence of the country’s economy. The Wind-mill farm will be producing electricity through the churning of large wind mills, the kinetic energy of which is then converted into mechanical energy used to produce electricity. Areas where wind speeds are known to be higher, such as in Egypt, the capabilities to harness this form of energy are enormous.
Certain European nations have used this capability to produce as much as 25% of their electricity requirements. Now with such a dire situation at Egypt, especially with Italcementi’s wind farm being used for industrial plants that will actually increase carbon emissions, there isn’t much scope to make green changes. On a positive note though, with futuristic planning, the land of Pharaohs could once again see itself back on its feet, and its ecological balance restored.
Via: Greenprophet
