Al Mal newspaper - Cairo Solar is preparing to acquire two solar power plants with a capacity of 260 kilowatts - Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Omar Salem

Cairo Solar, a solar energy company, is seeking to secure the implementation of two solar power stations with a capacity of 260 kW as part of its expansion plans and its targets for the current year, which include executing solar projects with a total capacity of 2.5 MW.

Hatem Tawfik, the company's Chief Commercial Officer, stated to Al-Mal that the company is preparing to compete for a solar power station on top of the Sumed Petroleum Company building in Alexandria, with a capacity of up to 100 kW.

He added that the project’s construction cost amounts to EGP 2 million, funded through local banks, and that the implementation period will not exceed five months. He explained that the company has submitted its bids for the project, and the bidding envelopes have been opened, with the winning company expected to be announced in September.

Tawfik pointed out that the project will be implemented using photovoltaic cells, which convert solar energy into electricity through solar panels. The project will use locally manufactured batteries and imported cells from China.

He further explained that the company's current customers mainly fall into two categories:

1. Those with high energy consumption who fall into the highest tariff bracket and seek to install solar stations to cover their energy needs.
2. Those who own land or projects in desert areas not connected to the national grid and aim to replace diesel and fuel oil with solar energy.

In the same context, Tawfik revealed that the company has won another project to establish a solar station on top of an international school building in Cairo, with a capacity of up to 160 kW.

He added that the project’s construction cost amounts to EGP 3 million, highlighting the growing demand from clients for such projects and their implementation using photovoltaic technology. He emphasized that the company is continuously working to raise awareness of the importance of such projects.

Tawfik also stated that the company is currently working on setting up solar-powered irrigation systems for farmland and pumps, targeting areas in Al-Alamein as part of the 1.5 million feddan project under the Egyptian Countryside Development Company. He noted that the cost of a solar station for irrigation—excluding the pump—reaches EGP 800,000.

Recently, the company completed the installation of 10 solar power stations on fuel stations to operate them using solar energy. It has also installed solar stations for home lighting. Cairo Solar has been operating in the local market since 2014 with a capital of EGP 5 million.