130218_Luxor-Egypt SECAP Final

power plant project will be generating 2 GW, the largest solar farm in the world.
Solar PV for residents and private owners
The plan would be to develop solar PV units in every possible place invited inhabitants to contribute to this
development. Through this process, city residents will benefit additional income after the payback period
and will become energy producers as well as being energy consumers. The City of Luxor could set up a
revolving fund to support this development.
Different options could be proposed to develop this process:
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- The City of Luxor proposes residents to invest and install 5 kW units on their roof. The electricity
produced goes to the Electric utility. When the total value of electricity produced matches the initial
investment, the PV unit ownership gets transferred to the resident who will then receive incomes from
the electricity sold to the utility. In this system the financial balance remains the same for the City /
Utility. It covers the initial investment and receives in return electricity, which will not be bought from
other sources generating an economy equivalent to the initial investment. When the PV unit gets
transferred to the resident, it buys electricity for him and not from an outside source;
- The City of Luxor invites resident to share the investment. In that case the resident will cover part of
the investment and will benefit a shorter period before getting revenues from his solar PV production.
The overall economy of the system remains the same. However one can consider that sharing the
investment with residents will push them to get more ownership on the energy issue and been then
more conscious on the benefit of working for energy conservation and efficiency along with developing
their own production; and
- The City of Luxor passes a deal with a bank that will offer attractive loans to residents. Residents
benefiting from such loans cover 100% of the investment. The City utility offers its guarantee to secure
the loan, as commits to buy all the electricity produced. This mechanism could allow a faster
development of PV units.
As solar PV seems to be booming in the Luxor Region it is key for the Governorate to ensure that this boom
not only benefits big foreign investors, but also contribute to the solar energy take off in all sector of the
society as this form of energy can be developed in many different forms, from large scale units to individual
small-scale production capacities.
Solar heating
Solar heating could be widely used for covering households’ needs and tourism sector heat consumption (for
sanitary water and swimming pools). Solar heating could also be used in some industries, shops, restaurants,
etc. that require hot water. Modern equipment is allowing very good performance to match specific
industrial needs.
This component of the plan could then:
- Raise awareness in all sectors on the expected benefits of this technology;
- Identify specific need of individuals, tourism operators, and industry related to heat and hot water
requirement;
- Identify technical solutions to match these needs with solar heating devices; and
- Develop pilot projects to promote these new production capacities.
Solar heating is a simple technology than can easily be developed with the support of local technician