(Photo: climatestate.com)

Benban Solar Park has 6 million solar panels

In Egypt’s western desert 500 miles south of Cairo, lies the biggest solar complex in Africa and one of the biggest in the world with 6 million solar panels known as the Benban Solar Park. The general manager of Scatec Solar, Muhammad Amer, has worked for solar complexes around the world but this is the first time he’s worked on a huge project in his home country.

Amer says he’s worked in the energy industry his whole life but knew he had to be apart of this project when he heard about it. Scatec Solar is one among dozens of international companies that are working on developing the site and Amer says the power sector is going through a period of change and that Egypt is apart of this change backed by the plan of the Egyptian government to diversify their energy sources.

The goal is for Egypt to make up 20% of its new configuration of energy sources within two years with Benban being a huge part of the plan. Benban Solar Park is estimated to provide 1.5 gigawatts of energy to the national grid, enough to power one million homes.

This is Africa's largest solar farm.

The Benban solar park in Egypt will provide enough electricity for over 1 million homes. More via @climate: https://t.co/ebc18HFJ1Q pic.twitter.com/AD3AAbhfIH

— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) March 7, 2020

Omar Youseef is responsible for keeping the solar plant running, saying that the project is constantly running online and never shuts down. Youseef further explains that Egypt is the perfect location for this ambitious project being in what is known to the world as the “sun belt.” With higher radiance, clear skys, and low humidity, these are the most favorable conditions to harness the maximum power of the sun through a solar power plant.

Benban is providing more than energy, creating jobs that impacts the surrounding community. Youseef explains this is a huge project that is providing hundreds of new job opportunities for the local Egyptian community. This new project is bringing Egypt one step closer to reaching its renewable energy target.