RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EGYPT : AN ANALYSIS OF OPTIONS

This paper reports the findings of a USAID-sponsored study to analyze the options for the use of RE resources in furthering Egypt"s economic development and to suggest strategies for USAID/E assistance in the next 5-10 years. The basic unit of study was a combination of RE resource, technology, and end use. Through preliminary analysis of 22 such combinations, the following six areas were identified as having outstanding potential for program development: solar water heating for industrial process heat and for agricultural, institutional, and domestic applications; solar crop and food drying; rural biogas digesters; wind machines for irrigation, electric generation, and perhaps desalination; solar refrigeration and cooling; and photovoltaic remote applications. Each of these areas is analyzed in greater detail (technology used and relative costs; utilization potential; social, environmental, and economic impacts; and infrastructure needed), and recommendations for programs and USAID/E support are presented. The other energy options considered in the preliminary analysis are briefly discussed as having good or limited potential or as needing further study. An appendix contains details of the information gathered and the analyses performed for the resource/technology/end-use combinations that were considered, including reasons why some combinations were not selected for detailed analysis. Other appendices describe the economic analysis methodology, give the criteria used for evaluating energy options, and analyze Egyptian energy-related agencies in terms of their institutional capabilities and their potential roles in recommended programs. A 31-item list of references (1974-79) is included.