Conference "Paving ways together for solar thermal energy in Egypt" at Heliopolis University on 18th May 2016

1. Solar Thermal Energy
in Egypt
Ehab Ismail Amin
General Manager of Planning Dept.
Ministry of Electricity & Renewable Energy
New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA)

2. ORGANIZATION CHART OF MINISTRY OF
ELECTRICITY & RENEWABLE ENERGY
Nuclear Materials
Authority
Nuclear Power
Plants Authority
Atomic Energy
Authority
New & Renewable
Energy Authority
Hydro Power Projects
Execution Authority
Egyptian Electricity
Holding Company

3. Electricity in Egypt
Total installed capacity about 36GW
o 32.5 thermal,
o 2.8 hydro,
o 0.75 wind
o 0.14 CSP
Secured supply to 99% of the
population.
Renewable Energy (Wind & solar)
represent about 2.5% from the capacity
& 0.8% from the electric energy.
Targeting to reach 20% of the electricity
generation by year 2022
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Renewable Energy in Egypt
Mohamed Salah ELSOBKI (jr) 3
; 32500
; 2800
; 750
;
140

4. RE plans
RE contribution to electric energy
mix by:
20% (2022)
30-40% (2035)
65% (2050)
4

5. Institutional framework:
Establishing NREA (1986)
The national focal point to develop and
introduce renewable energy technologies to
Egypt on a commercial scale together with
implementation of related energy
conservation programs

6. Areas of Activities
 The activities are concentrated into 4 areas:-
1- Wind Energy.
2- Solar Energy.
3- Testing & Certification.
4- Capacity Building.

7. • High intensity of direct solar
radiation ranging between 2000 –
3200 kWh/ m2 /year from North
to South.
• The sun shine duration ranges
between 9-11 h/day from North
to South, with very few cloudy
days.
Solar Atlas of Egypt

8. - 750 MW wind farms has been operated in stages since 2001 .
- 140 MW CSP power plant including solar field of 20 MWe based on parabolic
trough technology and 120 MW combined Cycle. It has been operated since July
2011.
- 30 MW PV power plants in Siwa, Farafra, Marsa Alam, Halayb, Shelateen and
AbuRamad cities since March 2015.
RE Current Situation (920 MW)

9. Summer 2014 Summer 2015

10. Evolution of Renewable Energy Legislation
March
2014
• Amendment the name of the Ministry of Electricity & Energy to be Ministry of
Electricity & Renewable Energy.
July
2014
• A tariff reform program was adopted and announces for five years up to 2019.
Consequently, the price of the electricity generated from RE will be increased anuualy
with same rate.
Sept
2014
• The Cabinet approved in principle the issuance of feed-in tariffs for electricity projects
produced from renewable energy resources (PV - Wind)and its prices (PV & Wind) was
issued by Prime Minister’s Decree on Oct. 27th 2014.
Oct.
2014
• NREA’ establishing Law has been amended to allow for NREA to establish companies
by it self or in partnership with the private sector to implement and O & M renewable
energy projects.
Dec.
2014
• RE Law was issued to encourage generating the electricity from RE sources through 4
development schemes
July
2015
• Electricity law has been issued to reflect a liberalized market reform as well as to
strengthen the regulatory framework

11. RE Development Mechanisms (Current & law 203 year 2014)
RENEWABLE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES
Competitive
Biding
Fit
since 2014
(4300 MW)
Transmission
(BOO) since 2009
(1250 MW)
Merchant
IPP since 2012
(920 MW)
New& Renewable
Energy Authority (NERA)
(EPC contracts) since 1999
(3219 MW)
11

12. Future of Renewable Energy &The Potential
for micro-grid power plants in Egypt
Overview on
The Solar Thermal Energy

13. Solar Thermal Applications
Electricity Generation Water heating Cooling

14. 140 MW Solar thermal power plant
 The 1st CSP plant is 140 MW including
solar field of 20 MWe based on parabolic
trough technology.
 The total investment is about $US 340 mio.
 The GEF has approved $ 49.8 mio. Grant
for the solar Island.
 The project has been operated since July
2011.
Solar Thermal Electricity Generation
 100 MW CSP power plant in the tendered phase. It is expected to be
operated in 2018/2019

15. • Egypt is geographically well positioned in terms of solar
insolation of 6.7 kWh/ m2 per day
• No official annual growth figures are available, but latest
studies conducted provide a figure of 800 000 m2 of installed
solar water heaters as of 2015.
• According to the IEA SHC program annual report, Egypt had a
market penetration value of 8.67 kWth/1000 people in 2013.
• There are about 20 Egyptian companies working in the field
of manufacturing, importing, and installation of solar water
heaters
Solar Water Heating in Egypt

16. Solar Water Heating in Egypt (cont.)

17. • During the 1980s, the Ministry of Electricity & Energy imported 1000 solar
flat plate water heaters with different capacities and installed in different
places in order to initiate a market for solar water heaters and to increase
the national awareness.
• A ministerial decree (401/1987) was issued by the Minister of Housing to
make the installation of solar water heating systems in new governmental
buildings in new communities compulsory. However, the decree has not
been enforced until now.
Solar Water Heating in Egypt (cont.)

18. • Funded by the Italian Ministry of
Environment & UNEP, to support the
development of SWH market in the
Tourism sector in Red Sea and South Sinai
Governorates with total amount 500000
US$ as following:-
– A 25% subsidy were provided for
collective solar thermal installations .
– Partially financial support for operation
& maintenance costs (4 $/m2/year) for
the first 2 years and 3 $/m2/year) for
the second 2 years.
• The total installed amount is 3820 m2
representing about 76% from the target
(5000 m2) in 30 hotels.
Disseminating Solar Water Heaters Project in Hotels
located in Red Sea and South Sinai Governorates
(EGYSOL)

19.  This center was established
in cooperation with EU &
Italy.
 The center includes a set of
integrated advanced indoor
and outdoor laboratories for
testing and certification of
renewable energy
equipment (solar, wind &
biomass)
 It includes also supporting
Labs (Aging – Chemicals &
Physical – Optical –
Electronic – Mechanical
Pumping).
RE&EE Testing & Certification Center

20. • Solar water heater testing facilities are
available at NREA with internal and external
equipment and the following standards are
observed:
– ISO 9806: Solar thermal collectors
– ISO 9459-2 and ISO 9459-5 : Solar Water
heaters performance test
– EN 12976-2: Solar water heaters other
characteristics tests
– EN 13501-1: Reaction to fire
• This lab is under upgrading in order to :-
– Comply with the international standards.
– Achieving the main goals of NREA.
– Arabian mark “SHAMCI “.
Solar Water Heaters Testing Lab

21. • Thermal performance for collectors.
• Pressure drop across the collector
• Complete solar thermal system.
• Solar water collector static pressure.
• Solar water collector dry stagnation and
thermal shock.
• Mechanical load.
• Freezing.
• Impact resistance.
• Efficiency for solar air collectors.
• Solar water collector rain penetration.
Upgrade Solar Water Heaters Testing Lab

22. Main Barriers
1. Low energy prices and large subsides given to conventional energy
sources.
2. High investment cost of SWHs comparing with the traditional water
heaters (electrical or natural gas or LPG).
3. The bad reputation gained on the implementation of SWHs during the
last decades since the 1970s as a result of lack of awareness, lack of
implementing mandatory high quality standards, and certification
schemes.
4. no specific financial incentives for the deployment of SWHs in Egypt.
5. The limited availability of the required area to install SWHs on the
building roofs.
6. no national certification or standard for SWHs installers.
7. inadequate quality control infrastructure leads to entry of low quality
products into the market,
8. The lack of Public acceptance

23. Opportunities
• In July 2014, the Egyptian government introduced a five-year plan to
phase out subsidies in the electricity sector
• Recent training has been provided by NREA with the involvement of
APAVE to installers and vocational training has also been conducted.
• In 2015, a new sensitization campaign for renewable energies is being
developed focusing on solar thermal and PV systems. This involves
television commercials .
• The Solar Energy Development Association (SEDA) advocates the
development of the solar energy market in Egypt, and is composed of
companies related to manufacturing, sales and trainings related to solar
energy, including solar thermal.
• Starting cooperation among NREA, SDF and SEDA.

24. • A protocols between NREA and the
Ministry of Tourism has been signed
in order to Implement pilot project in
6-10 hotels to set up investment
model in order to encourage the
hotels for utilizing the solar energy in
water heating and generate
electricity from PV technologies.
• Another protocols between NREA
and the New Urban Communities
Authority has been signed in order to
Provide the technical support in
dissemination of solar energy
applications ( SWHs & PV) in both
new communities.
Opportunities (Cont.)

25. ……….
• A realistic & commitment target (residential & industrial)
• Preparing the required legislation, policies and tools or
mechanisms by the partners and stakeholders ( Governmental,
Banks, International donors, Companies, universities , SEDA,
………).
• Innovative Financing Mechanism to Strengthen the Promotion
of Distributed Solar Energy.
• Creating or forming a working group or team work to prepare
white paper /the necessary documents based on the previous
studies& surveys for paving ways together for solar thermal
energy in Egypt.
• …………………………………………………
• ………………………………………………….

26. Thank you for your attention
ehab4768@gmail.com