Egypt plans to start its first solar power unit in 2010, but in order to expand solar power production for export, costs of the technology would need to fall first to make it feasible.

The North African country, a gas and oil producer, aims to generate 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. It already has installed wind capacity of 430 megawatts and is adding 120 megawatts by mid 2010.

Wind farms are expected to meet 12 percent of Egypt’s power needs by 2020 but solar power projects have lagged.

Egypt, whose population is concentrated on just 10 percent of its land, has ample desert areas to set up solar power units. The most populous Arab country is also situated in the sun belt where sunshine is available all year round for power generation.

Electricity and Energy Minister Hassan Younes told a conference on renewable energy that Egypt could export to Europe via Libya and Tunisia, which are in turn linked with Morocco and Spain.

Reuters

Wind Energy is scheduled to be the largest contributor to the generation of renewable energy in Egypt. 12% of the 20% of total renewable energy generation is to come from this source. By 2020 it is expected that wind energy will contribute 7200 MW to renewable energy generation.

Egypt is located in the Sunbelt area which means that the country is endowed with high intensity of direct solar radiation ranging between 2000-2600 kwh/m2/year and sunshine duration that ranges from 9-11 hours with mostly clear days. Egypt’s primary locations are able to offer 500 more hours of solar operation each year compared to Spain and Greece, the most favourable European locations. Especially the Upper Egypt region shows great potential for solar energy development.

Hydro-electric power generation has the potential to account for 14% of total generation by 2013. In theory, the Aswan High Dam Project can generate 2.1GW, currently low water levels prevent this from being realised. A Russian company has been awarded the refurbishment of the power station to increase the capacity to 2.4GW.

The Egyptian government has worked on a comprehensive energy needs assessment and has determined that there is a requirement for four nuclear power stations. The first power station is set to be completed by 2020.

Global Arab Network

The project is a collaboration between the Information Technology Industry Development Agency, a government institution, the state-run Science and Technology Fund, and the IBM Corp. Academics from Cairo University, Egypt’s largest state-run university, will contribute to the center.

The center will be geared towards conducting research in the production of solar and renewable energy, water desalination and modelling of software programs, according to governmental officials.

Planning for the center was based on a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2008 between the development agency, on behalf of the Egyptian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the Science and Technology Development Fund representing the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and IBM.

It is funded by contributions from information technology and communications companies operating in Egypt, said officials.

University World News