Building domestic capabilities in renewable energy: a case study of Egypt

Building domestic capabilities in renewable energy: a case study of Egypt

Download PDF 8.02 MB

Vidican, Georgeta
Studies 66 (2012)

Bonn: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

ISBN: 978-3-88985-503-9
Price: 10 €

The wide availability of renewable energy sources in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is at the core of several large-scale European initiatives to support clean energy generation in the region and import part of it to Europe. Given the current socio-economic and political challenges in the MENA region, this goal could be realized if the renewable energy sector becomes a channel for local industrial development, private sector competitiveness and a source of employment and capacity building.

Within the specific context of Egypt, this study assesses: (1) what is the potential for localizing the value chain for solar and wind technologies; (2) what institutional and political obstacles impede the domestic benefits; and (3) what policy recommendations
could be proposed for national policy-makers and international cooperation agencies to support this development process.

The study finds that while important local technological capabilities exist, specific policy measures need to be considered in several areas: energy subsidy reform, supply chain development, knowl­edge and R&D capabilities. Moreover, Egyptian policy-makers should disseminate a new narrative to mobilize alliances between various stakeholder groups to make renewable energy viable for Egypt.

About the author

Auktor (ehemals Vidican)

Further experts

Banerjee, Aparajita

Environmental and Resource Sociology, Public Policy 

Baumann, Max-Otto

Political Science 

Breuer, Anita

Political Scientist 

Dick, Eva

Sociologist and Spatial Planner 

El-Haddad, Amirah

Economy 

Fasold, Maximilian

Political Economy 

Haldenwang, Christian von

Political Science 

Hilbrich, Sören

Economy 

Houdret, Annabelle

Political Scientist 

Leininger, Julia

Political Scientist 

Morare, Ditebogo Modiegi

Political Science 

Never, Babette

Political Scientist 

Nowack, Daniel

Political Science 

Pegels, Anna

Economist 

Roll, Michael

Sociology 

Sommer, Christoph

Economist 

Stamm, Andreas

Geographer 

Strohmaier, Rita

Economy 

Vrolijk, Kasper

Economy 

Walle, Yabibal

Development Economics