Egypt is moving ahead with its renewable energy goals with the construction of a new solar photovoltaic (PV) factory in the Sokhna Zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The project is being developed by the Chinese company Elite Solar. Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairperson of SCZONE, attended the ceremony marking the beginning of the factory’s construction in the TEDA Egypt industrial zone.
The factory will specialize in producing N-type solar cells and assembling photovoltaic components, including wafers, cells, and modules. With a planned production capacity of 2 GW, the facility will be built on 78,000 square meters of land. The project represents an investment of $150 million and is expected to create 600 direct jobs. Operations are planned to begin with the first production phase in September 2025.
The agreement for this project was finalized during SCZONE’s promotional visit to China in September 2023. This visit was part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between Egypt and Chinese companies under the support of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
Elite Solar is an established player in the solar industry, founded in 2005 in China. The company manufactures various solar energy components and operates solar farms and power stations. Its production capacity exceeds 10 GW, with trademarks registered in regions like the United States, Europe, and Saudi Arabia.
Egypt has already implemented other solar projects. The Benban Solar Park in Aswan is one of the country’s largest, with a capacity of 1.8 GW. Another project, the Infinity Solar Plant, has a capacity of 130 MW. These facilities contribute to Egypt’s renewable energy goals, which include generating 42% of the nation’s energy from renewable sources by 2030 as part of its Vision 2030 strategy.
