AIKO, Infinity Power Advance 259MW Benban Solar Project in Egypt

AIKO has struck a partnership with Infinity Power to support a major solar-and-storage project at Egypt’s Benban complex in Aswan, adding fresh momentum to the country’s clean energy ambitions.

The Nefer Benban project will combine 259MW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 120MWh battery energy storage system, creating a facility designed not only to generate power but also to improve the steadiness of supply to the grid. When operational, the plant is expected to provide electricity for nearly 311,000 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 349,000 tonnes each year.

For Infinity Power, the agreement represents a return to Aswan, where it first entered the Benban solar park in 2017. The company said the new development fits into its longer-term plan to build and operate 10GW of renewable energy capacity across Africa by 2032.

The Benban area is known for its difficult operating conditions, with intense heat and some of the highest levels of solar irradiation in the region. Average temperatures there reach about 34 degrees Celsius, while solar irradiation can climb to 1,620kWh per square metre annually.

AIKO said its All-Back-Contact solar technology was selected to suit those conditions. The company says the modules can reach 24.2 percent efficiency and generate between 650W and 655W, giving them a higher output than conventional panels installed over the same area.

That improved performance is expected to help the project produce more electricity without requiring additional land or extra mounting structures. The companies said this would support stronger project economics while maximising the energy available from the site.

The delivery timetable is also moving quickly. AIKO said the required modules will be delivered within one month of the agreement being signed, while the project itself is expected to be connected to Egypt’s national grid in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The partnership underscores the growing scale of solar and storage investment across Africa, where governments and private developers are increasingly turning to advanced technologies to expand renewable capacity and strengthen energy security.