Egypt Moves to Power 7,000 Factories with Solar Energy

Egypt plans to establish solar power plants with a combined capacity of 1,000 megawatts to supply roughly 7,000 factories under the “Shams El-Senaa” (Sun of Industry) initiative, as the government seeks to expand renewable energy use and reduce electricity costs for industrial facilities. 

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met on Monday, 2 November, with Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat to follow up on the mechanisms for implementing the initiative, which supports the transition of the industrial sector to solar power. 

The programme was launched in line with the recommendations and outcomes of Egypt Forum 2026, which called for a number of initiatives to expand reliance on new and renewable energy sources across different sectors.

At the start of the meeting, Madbouly noted that the initiative enjoys the attention of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and forms part of a broader drive to expand the use of new and renewable energy. 

He said it is also meant to lower energy costs for industry, diversify energy sources, strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian industry, increase domestic output and localise solar energy manufacturing. 

The prime minister stressed the need to give close attention to operation and maintenance, including regular inspection of solar panel equipment and upkeep of transformers, connection systems and control equipment. 

For his part, Esmat said the initiative would help reduce factories’ electricity bills and natural gas consumption, improve production efficiency and bolster the ability of Egyptian products to compete in both local and global markets. 

He added that the programme represents an important boost to localizing the manufacture of renewable energy components and maximising local content, which in turn would support industrial value chains and improve export opportunities. 

The minister reviewed the proposed implementation mechanisms in detail, in support of the state’s efforts to raise the contribution of renewables to the energy mix and make better use of available resources.

Esmat also disclosed that expanding renewable energy use, improving energy efficiency and rationalising electricity consumption are among the files being worked on with relevant ministries and authorities. 

Alongside “Shams El-Senaa,” he said, the government is coordinating with all ministries and bodies nationwide on a separate project to use the rooftops of government buildings to generate solar electricity. Both initiatives fall within the national energy strategy, the reliance on renewable sources and the state’s energy transition plan, all of which aim to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix and improve the efficiency of electricity consumption.