Benban Solar Farm
Sommaire
The Benban Solar Farm is a solar photovoltaic power plant located in the western desert of Egypt, near the town of Benban, in the province of Aswan. It is considered the largest solar PV plant in the world in terms of electricity generation capacity.
The Benban solar farm consists of 32 different solar power plants, with a total generating capacity of 1.8 GW. It covers a total area of over 37 km². The construction of the solar power plant started in 2017 and was completed in 2019. It was developed by a consortium of international companies, including the Egyptian company Infinity Solar and the German company Ib Vogt GmbH.
The history of the Benban solar farm dates back to 2014, when the Egyptian government issued a tender to develop renewable energy projects in the country. The Benban project was one of the successful projects, with the aim of providing clean, renewable electricity to Egypt and reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Benban solar farm was built as part of a larger programme to develop renewable energy in Egypt. The Egyptian government has set a target of generating 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2022. The Benban solar farm makes a significant contribution to this goal, providing electricity to millions of homes and businesses in Egypt.
In addition to its renewable energy generation features, the Benban Solar Farm is also a source of local employment, creating opportunities for local people and contributing to the economic development of the region.
What is a solar farm ?
A solar farm is a facility that uses solar panels to generate electricity from solar energy. Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. These solar panels are arranged on structures supported by pillars, often forming vast solar fields.
Solar farms are often used to power power grids, provide electricity to remote areas or isolated communities, or to power industries that require a large amount of electrical energy, such as mining.
Solar farms can come in all sizes, from small projects of a few kilowatts to power a home or small business, to multi-megawatt or even gigawatt projects to power large communities or entire towns. The size and production capacity of a solar farm depends on factors such as the availability of sunshine, the size of the available area and the electricity needs of the region.
Financing the Benban Solar Farm
The Benban solar farm was financed by a mixture of public and private funds, as well as bank loans.
The Egyptian government provided grants to support the development of the project and to encourage foreign investment. In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided €28 million in financing for the construction of the solar power plant.
Private investors, including the Egyptian company Infinity Solar, have also invested in the project. In addition, the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided loans to finance the construction of the solar plant.
In total, the construction cost of the Benban solar farm is approximately US$4 billion. The project has been seen as an innovative financing model for renewable energy projects in Africa and has attracted the attention of international investors interested in clean and sustainable energy projects in the region.
How much electricity does the Benban solar farm produce ?
The Benban Solar Farm has a power generation capacity of 1.8 GW, making it the largest solar PV plant in the world in terms of generation capacity. It is capable of producing enough energy to power millions of homes and businesses in Egypt.
How many homes does it power?
In terms of annual electricity production, the Benban solar farm is capable of producing approximately 3.8 terawatt hours (TWh) per year. This is enough energy to power about 2 million homes in Egypt.
The Benban solar farm’s electricity production is an important part of Egypt’s energy transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, reducing the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and helping to combat climate change.
Contact
Address : CPRR+4JP، Unnamed Road, بنبان، مركز دراو، أسوان،, Markaz Deraw, Egypt
TEL : +20 115 667 6713