ABSTRACT
Figure 28.1 Stern-mounted steering oar of an Egyptian riverboat, Tomb of Menna, c. 1422-1411 BCE. (Photo: The Yorck Project).With the beginning of the 21st century, Egypt started exploring the potential of wind, rapidly making it a relevant energy source for the country’s energy demand. Egypt aims at 20% of renewable energy of the total production by 2020 of which 12% should come from wind energy.Energy consumption in Egypt is increasing rapidly due to economic growth. Only within five years, from 2004 to 2009, the population of Egypt has increased by 14.3% and energy production has increased by 36% in the same period.1Growing energy demands require new solutions for energy production and savings. And indeed, the renewable energy sector in Egypt has been growing for the last 20 years-this growth is a result of successful governmental policies as well as intensive cooperation with international institutions and industry. 28.2 Development of Wind Power in Egypt
The first attempts for the use of wind power have been made in the second half of the 20th century. In 1960, the World Food Program donated thousands of mechanical water pumps for the Bedouins in the northern coast of Egypt. 1IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2010.
