GE Will Help Build One of Egypt’s First Utility-Scale Solar Power Plants with 1,500-Volt Technology

• The Deal is Part of the Government’s Landmark Solar Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program
• It is GE’s First Full Turnkey Solar Contract
• The 50-Megawatt Solar Plant Will be Able to Power 15,000 Local Homes

Egypt is rising to become the next solar hotspot. Part of the government’s ambitious sustainable energy strategy is the landmark solar feed-in tariff (FiT) program, which sees the utility-scale solar power plants taking off in the country for the first time. Made up of solar photovoltaic power plants with a combined capacity of 500 megawatts (MW), the project will help drive sustainable energy growth, support the local economy and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of the FiT program, GE Power’s Power Conversion (NYSE: GE) will provide a full turnkey contract to Fas Energy to build the 50-MW solar power plant for Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), including both financing and equipment. Upon completion, it will be able to power 15,000 local homes.

Eng. Lamya Yousef, head of IPP & Renewable Energy at EETC, remarked: “According to the government strategy, Egypt’s New & Renewable Energy Authority had set up a target of generating 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2020, among which solar energy development is a key driver to achieve the goal. The FiT program is the first utility-scale solar project in Egypt, and it is our strong commitment to the country’s sustainable economic growth and a cleaner environment.”

Sabri Asfour, general manager at FAS ENERGY, said: “Egypt has abundant solar radiance all year round, and developing solar energy makes both social and economic sense. In order to achieve the government’s renewable target, it requires partners that have strong financing capacity and technology expertise. We are impressed to find GE as a reliable partner that embodies both capabilities. Furthermore, Egypt is an excellent market for the renewable projects. FAS is expanding our investment portfolio to install on its roof top and car park as well. Now, FAS ENERGY already signed a few PPAs (power purchase agreements) in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.”

Azeez Mohammed, president & CEO, GE’s Power Conversion, said: “This is GE’s first full turnkey contract to build a solar power plant. We offer solutions that cover the complete solar energy value chain. By taking the integrated system approach, we help de-risk the project and enhance plants’ reliability and revenues. With the digital technology coming as the next piece among our solar solution portfolio, we are committed to building tomorrow’s solar farms that are set to bring greater efficiency and productivity.”

Based on the agreement, GE will provide 4.4-MW solar skids featuring GE’s LV5 1,500-volt solar inverters, marking the first entry of the 1,500-volt system into the solar market in Egypt. The highly efficient inverter skids can help improve the annual energy production and thus increase the project revenues. It can lead to up to a 3 percent lower system cost and up to 15 percent less in maintenance costs compared to its 1,000-volt peers. It also helps reduce costs associated with infrastructure, deployment and operation expenditures.

GE will also procure the complete plant assets such as solar modules, trackers and cables provide the integrated system solution to the customer and be responsible for the civil, mechanical and electrical works to ensure the successful asset deployment and commissioning of the power plant.

Moreover, GE will provide a favorable payment scheme to help the customer kick off the project and enhance the plant’s bankability.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. To learn more, please visit www.ge.com.

About GE Power

GE Power is a world energy leader that provides technology, solutions and services across the entire energy value chain from the point of generation to consumption. We are transforming the electricity industry by uniting all the resources and scale of the world’s first Digital Industrial company. Our customers operate in more than 150 countries, and together we power more than a third of the world to illuminate cities, build economies and connect the world.