Egypt Launches Solar Thermal Systems Initiative through Ministry of Tourism Projects

The Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) issued the final version of the Egyptian Solar Heating Arab Mark and Certification Initiative (SHAMCI) certification manual. The New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) is preparing to receive financial bids to rehabilitate the solar heating systems labs.

The manual is the result of cooperation efforts over the past few months between the EOS, the NREA, the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Solar Energy Development Association (SEDA).

Similarly, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism offered support to supply current hotel rooms with solar heaters, currently at 66%. The hospitality sector widely responded, and the meeting attendees agreed on forming a formal consultation committee consisting of RCREEE and other specialized entities to provide basis for assessing the viability of companies applying for these projects and evaluating the solar heating products and the quality of installation.

The step is expected to have a very important impact on avoiding the installation of solar equipment that does not comply with the certified SHAMCI specifications, which in turn will contribute to sustaining surplus arising from heating water with traditional energy on one hand, and on the other hand will provide an example in project management based on quality and standard specifications in the Arab Republic of Egypt.