How solar energy is sparking new business in Egypt

Egypt hopes renewable power will cut its reliance on fossil fuel imports and solve some of its energy and economic problems. The entrepreneurial co-founders of a solar startup company want to help.
The country wants to get 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2022, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy.

Al-Monitor sat down with the co-founders of SolarizEgypt, a company that designs, installs and commissions photovoltaic solar power systems, to learn about the firm and the industry. Yaseen Abdel-Ghaffar is managing director of the Cairo business, while Rana Alaa is technical director.

Solar energy is evolving into a malleable new technology that accommodates a variety of needs, Abdel-Ghaffar explained.

Solar cells concentrate light to generate heat. There are two kinds of photovoltaic cell systems: grid-connected and off-grid. Under the former type, users install solar cells that are connected to the government’s power grid. The cells provide consumers with energy, but when they need more power, or at night, they can pull energy from the national power grid, Abdel-Ghaffar said.

“The whole idea is that it provides cost savings as long as there is sun,” he added.