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"Benban", the Largest Solar Power Plant in Aswan

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened this power plant via video conference while opening New Administrative Capital Power Plant.

The solar energy is the most important source of energy on the globe, Egypt geographically lies between latitudes 22 and 31.5 north, so Egypt is at the heart of the global solar belt, and thus it is one of the richest world countries in solar energy. In the village of Benban in Aswan, the largest solar energy station in the world is built, where 90% of the energy produced from the High Dam will be generated. This is within the framework of the strategy developed by the New and Renewable Energy Authority, which aims to make 20% of the electricity produced in Egypt of clean energy by 2022.

Aswan is the jewel of the Nile, the land of challenges and championships. It is still an important station in implementing many giant national projects that reflect the hopes and aspirations for a better tomorrow. Aswan is different from the other southern governorates in a number of economic, social, anthropological, historic, and cultural indicators in the South.

Aswan is regarded as the future of the South according to the development studies of southern Egypt. It is also expected to have the highest economic growth rate in the south and to account for the largest share of the population attraction in the development plan of southern Egypt as a development resource. Aswan can accommodate more than one million people added to those living there, and the percentage is projected to increase from 9.7% of the region’s population in 1996 to 13.3% in 2017.

The project is shown in the attached video (2:14:48 to 2:15:57).

 

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Electricity and Renewable Energy Jul 2018

"Benban", the Largest Solar Power Plant in Aswan

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened this power plant via video conference while opening New Administrative Capital Power Plant.

The solar energy is the most important source of energy on the globe, Egypt geographically lies between latitudes 22 and 31.5 north, so Egypt is at the heart of the global solar belt, and thus it is one of the richest world countries in solar energy. In the village of Benban in Aswan, the largest solar energy station in the world is built, where 90% of the energy produced from the High Dam will be generated. This is within the framework of the strategy developed by the New and Renewable Energy Authority, which aims to make 20% of the electricity produced in Egypt of clean energy by 2022.

Aswan is the jewel of the Nile, the land of challenges and championships. It is still an important station in implementing many giant national projects that reflect the hopes and aspirations for a better tomorrow. Aswan is different from the other southern governorates in a number of economic, social, anthropological, historic, and cultural indicators in the South.

Aswan is regarded as the future of the South according to the development studies of southern Egypt. It is also expected to have the highest economic growth rate in the south and to account for the largest share of the population attraction in the development plan of southern Egypt as a development resource. Aswan can accommodate more than one million people added to those living there, and the percentage is projected to increase from 9.7% of the region’s population in 1996 to 13.3% in 2017.

The project is shown in the attached video (2:14:48 to 2:15:57).

 

  • Project Goals
  • Climate Features
  • Energy Projects and Alliance of World Companies
  • Energy Projects and International Coalitions

1. The project is a new nucleus for generating electricity in Egypt from the sun and supporting the national network.
2. The site of the project was selected in the area of "Benban" in Aswan, based on the studies and reports of NASA and some international scientific institutions, which confirmed that the project site is one of the sunniest in the world.
3. The site includes 40 solar power plants under construction.
4. The capacity of each station is 50 mw.
5. Total energy generated by the sun is equivalent to 90% of the electric power generated by the High Dam.
6. The Gas Insulated Stations (GIS) will be constructed for the first time in Egypt.
7. The new stations support the trend towards clean renewable energy.
8. It is the largest solar power station complex with voltage cells without storage in the world.
9. The Minister of Electricity will open the first station for Infinity company out of 40 stations, and it will be linked to the network-unified project.
10. The station is built on an area of 250 acres at a financial cost estimated at one billion pounds.
11. The solar panels used by the plant are about 200 thousand solar panels, producing 50 megawatts of clean energy, which can light 70,000 homes.
12. The solar energy project was launched in 2015, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 274/2014.
13. The investment project cost about 40 billion Egyptian pounds.
14. The project will be built on an area of 8843.3 acres on the "Aswan - Cairo" desert road in front of the village of "Benban".
15. 39 companies specialized in the production of energy have been selected by the New and Renewable Energy Authority according to the international specifications, including 9 international and Arab companies and 30 Egyptian ones, out of a total of 200 offered to implement this huge project.
16. The elected companies signed their contracts with the Ministry of Electricity and the Authority with POT system with usufruct right for 25 years.
17. Once the four main stations are completed, these stations will be ready to receive the electricity generated from the solar power stations for transmission to the unified network, then to the competent distribution companies nationwide.
18. The giant project provides 20,000 jobs during the four-year construction period.
19. The project will also provide 6,000 fixed jobs in companies on a permanent basis once the work of the project starts.
20. Agreeing with the Ministry of Education to implement the proposal of the Governor of Aswan to transform the industrial secondary school in "Benban" to a one specialized in teaching solar energy starting from the new academic year, to include all the crafts of solar energy and those of electricity power plants in all aspects.

- Most of the country, from Cairo to the Far South, receives radiation of more than 6 kWh/m2/day. The days when the clouds appear daytime hours are less than 20 days a year, and the total radiation from the north to the south increases till it reaches 5 kWh/m2/day near the North Coast and exceeds 7 kWh/m2/day in the far south of Egypt.

- Most parts of the country, from Cairo to the far south, receive direct sunlight of more than 7 kWh/m2/day while the sun shines for over 4000 hours per year. Such numbers are among the highest rates in the world.

- The scattered solar radiation reaches its highest level in the far north of Egypt as it exceeds 2 kWh/m2/day; 40% of the value of solar radiation there. This cannot be overlooked when establishing solar systems in these areas while the scattered radiation is reduced to only about 20% in the far south.

- The southern desert in Egypt enjoys from 9-11 hours of sunshine per day, exceeding 3600 hours per year in various parts of Egypt.

- The amount of radiation falling over the entire area of Egypt reaches more than 6 trillion kW per day, more than 100 times the total electric power generated during 1996/97.

The governorate includes several energy projects where many facilities have been offered to attract more serious Arab and international investments in this direction. This led to the alliance of 40 international companies to establish the largest electricity generating complex from solar power and the access of natural gas to the city of Aswan whether for operating KIMA plant or for houses and commercial activities. This is in addition to the establishment of a solar power station for the first time above the building of the Governorate Diwan with a capacity of 100 k.

The maintenance of the High Dam is also ongoing to maintain its capacity to generate electricity and to preserve the Nile's share. The High Dam is one of the largest national projects established in Egypt, and it contributes to generating electricity to supply the entire country with electricity with the support, potentials and expertise of the Investment Authority in attracting investment opportunities to maximize the best utilization of wealth. This is in addition to promoting and marketing for these projects with the introduction of the developer system that builds the infrastructure and then presents it to major companies.

The projects implemented in Benban, Aswan, aimed to mobilize private investment to build the world's largest photovoltaic solar power plants and help stimulate economic growth, providing about 6,000 direct and indirect jobs at the stage of establishing projects and reducing harmful emissions by supplying 350,000 homes with clean energy. Such projects also aimed to establish giant projects all over the country for a better future for Egypt.

40 international companies have allied together to establish the largest complex for electricity generation from solar energy. 

The projects that are being implemented in Benban aim to mobilize investments to build the largest photovoltaic power station in the world. This has many advantages as it would help provide 6000 job opportunities and supply clean energy to 350000 houses.