Solar Energy in Egypt

Advantages and Obstacles

By
Samir S. Ayad
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Benha University
Email:samir_ayad@mail.com
Cell Phone: +2 012 7871281
President of Egyptian Solar Energy Systems Company
www.egyptsolar.net

Solar Resources In
Egypt

The average annual

direct normal solar
radiation reaches (19703200) kwh/m2/year.

The average annual

global radiation varies
between (1900-2600)
kwh/m2/year

oEnergy Consumption Status

Final Energy Consumption =========== 42 M toe.
Energy Consumption for Heating Water in Domestic Sector 1.3 M toe.
History and Background of DSWH
In 1980, in order to introduce the
technology to the Egyptian market,
the Ministry of Electricity & Energy
imported 1000 DSWH systems,
using flat-plate collector technology.
In the same year, the first private
sector local manufacturing was
started.
Since then DSWH systems
manufactured locally.

are

NG
16.7%

LPG
43.0%

ELECTRICITY
38.8%

SOLAR
1.6%

Distribution of Water Heating System

Egyptian Solar Energy Systems

Company
Company has been established since
1989. We design , manufacture,
install and services solar hot water
systems for domestic uses as well as
for tourist villages, hotels and
hospitals .
Low temperature industrial applications
are also covered

 Factory is established at October 6th city on

an area of 1700 square meters in the first
industrial zone .
The Solar Hot water Systems produced have
been tested by NREA and the test results
showed up to 96% Solar Fraction.
Installations have been operating successfully
in many important places like International
Medical Center, Police Academies around the
country,.. etc

Thermo-Siphon 500 Liters/day

Solar-Heated Swimming Pool

Cross Section of Flat Plate Solar

Collector

Absorber Plate
Is made of copper fins welded to copper
risers by plasma welder.
Absorber is coated by selective black
crystal coating with absorptivity =0.96
and emissivity =0.08

500 liters/day Thermo-siphon Solar

Hot Water System

Forced Circulation Solar System

Forced circulation systems

For central hot water systems when lumped
amount of hot water is needed it uses a
calculating pump compatible with hot water a
differential thermostatic controller is used to
operate the pump . As the sun shines the outlet
temperature of collector is higher than the inlet
temperature and the controller signals the pump
to operate .

Typical Central Hot Water Systems

Systems of up to 18 m3 /day are installed
around the country ( El Obour hospital,
Sohag school for police academy
etc).
Housings of 4232 Solar Collectors in New
Beni Sweif.

The Company and the Environment

Annual production of 3000 collectors
Each collector produces daily 6 kWh
.Annual energy production of 6.3 GWh

CO2 Emission Saving

Based on Tests carried out by
NREA (New and Renewable
Energy Authority), and Carnot
efficiency of Best Heat Engine
The company Production Of
Solar Hot Water Systems
Saves the environment about
8000 Tons of CO2 annually

oSolar Thermal Applications in Egypt

Solar Thermal is being developed in Egypt mainly for three applications
Domestic
Domestic Solar
Solar
Water
Water Heating
Heating

Solar
Solar Industrial
Industrial
Process
Process Heat
Heat

Solar
Solar Electricity
Electricity
Generation
Generation Systems
Systems
Kuraymat 150 Mw

130,800 m2 Parabolic Trough

Total Electricity Generation=====850 Gwh/a
Solar Generation==========-===34 Gwh/a
Integrated Solar Combined
Cycle Power Plant)

Technical Design
Stack Exhaust
100C
100C

395C

Steam
540C, 100bar
540C,
Solar HX

HRSG

Air and
vapour
Steam
turbine

G~

Cooling
Tower

Air

Air

Condenser
Parabolic
Trough Field

295C
295C
600C

G
~

Electricity
to the grid

Gas turbine(s)

Solar Island
Solar
Island

CC Island

Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Power Plant ISCCS

oState of the art

oEconomic and Financial

o(DSWHS)
Barriers
The average
cost of Common Domestic Solar Water Heating
Systems 150 lit/day reaches about 3,500 LE
High initial costs of solar thermal technologies.

The Payback period of using Domestic Solar Water Heating

Directcompared
oil and gas
subsidies
41.8
Systems
with
electricequal
heaters
is billion
about L.E/yr.
9 11 year
More than the revenues of Suez canal
Lack of innovative financing schemes.
Low level of awareness of local financing sector.
In 2007, Egypt announced a new plan to Review out energy
subsidies for industry.

Photo Voltaic Solar Systems

The company put together and installs
photovoltaic solar cells for electricity
productions for lighting systems of small
powers with photovoltaic panels , charge
controller , deep cycle batteries and direct
current bulbs.
DC/AC inverter can be used to supply AC
current.

Street Lights

o Recommendations
Short term:
To promote the training of technicians for the installation and maintenance of
the systems.
9 To promote a policy of awareness and divulgence of the benefits of hot water
consumption coming from active solar systems, which would allow local
community to choose that technology.
9 To set up pilot European cooperation promotion programmes, in order to remove
the barriers in the Egyptian market.
9 To boost the diversification of companies in charge of production, installation
and maintenance in order to guarantee the quality of the services rendered.
9 To carry out consumer sector studies in each city so as to identify potential
market niches.
9 To seek the financing systems oriented to helping the creation of innovative
industries in the solar thermal water heating area with the contribution of
capitals from own funding and the availability of expertise (market studies,
financial management, organisation,...).

o Recommendations
Long term:
9 To look for legislative support for the implementation of
measures which would open up the market.
9 To encourage the creation of a network of associations of
manufacturers, small enterprises, importers and consumers
related to the chamber of commerce and industry of each
city.
9 To promote a strategy in order to achieve a technical code
based performance, introducing a norm that would regulate
quality measures in component production, management and
distribution as well as unit assembly.

Thank you for your attention

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.