CAIRO: SolFocus, Inc., whose mission is to enable solar energy generation at cost parity with fossil fuels, has announced its interest in establishing a subsidiary in Egypt that will work to generate electricity. "With its abundant sunshine and land resources, the Middle East region is ideally suited to benefit from the substantial opportunity for solar energy, Gary D. Conley, chairman and CEO of SolFocus Inc., told Daily News Egypt. SolFocus provides solar energy generation at a cost equal to or better than traditional electric generation from natural gas, oil, and even coal by utilizing technology that eliminates cost barriers. Conley was in Egypt to give a keynote address titled "Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) to deliver solar energy at cost parity with fossil fuels, part of an executive session at the International Conference on Sustainable Energy. He explained the company's technologies and how sunny regions like the Middle East and North Africa are ideal for solar energy production. "Specifically, we believe SolFocus CPV technology, which concentrates a large amount of sunlight onto a small amount of active solar material, can provide the region with the greatest amount of energy at the lowest cost. This is especially relevant in a location like Egypt that is looking for promising technology to bring solar energy generation to cost-parity with energy generated using fossil fuels, he said. SolFocus develops and markets solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems, trackers for CPV and flat panel PV installations, and is expanding into other solar technologies such as solar thermal. Founded in 2005 with a focus on reliable, low-cost, high-volume manufacturability, SolFocus solar systems and solutions can reduce the cost of delivering renewable solar energy, and ultimately compete with conventional fuels in several large, multi-billion-dollar energy markets. "The company plans to expand into the MENA region in early 2008. We are currently researching the market, finding out more about our competition and approaching the government, Conley said. SolFocus should be ready to launch its CPV technology in Egypt in the fourth quarter of 2008. There is little doubt that the world's need for energy is growing at a rapid rate as the population increases, global industrialization accelerates, and a higher standard of living results in higher electricity usage. It is fore¬casted that the demand for electricity will double over the next 20 years. "Meeting these energy demands requires changing the way the world sources its energy, away from diminishing fossil fuels toward more abundant, renewable sources. To this end, Sol¬Focus has turned to a very abundant source for energy - the sun, Conley said. Egyptians should change their lifestyle trends. Keeping the light on at all times and switching on the air conditioner when you don't need it are only a fraction of individual ways to waste energy. "If the electricity in Egypt wasn't subsidized, people would think twice before doing that, he said. President Hosni Mubarak's recent announcement that Egypt is to build several nuclear power stations, re-launching a nuclear program frozen more than 20 years ago, "is definitely the right thing to do. Even businessmen have realized the benefits they can generate from going into the power generation business. "It is the wise thing to do, we make millions of dollars out of it and we use mirrors and aluminum, which are both very cheap, and the sun is for free, he said. High costs have been the roadblock keeping solar from realizing its potential, and CPV technology can overcome this obstacle. SolFocus CPV technology is increasingly recognized as the most promising technology to drive solar energy generation to cost-parity with energy generated using fossil fuels. "This is the SolFocus advantage, he said. The company currently employees around 70 and has expanded its operations to include SolFocus Europe, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, subsidiary Inspira, S.L., also based in Madrid, and SolFocus Glassworks with operations in Mesa, Arizona. In November 2005, the NREL Growth Forum recognized Conley as its Clean Energy Entrepreneur of the Year. "It is always nice to make money, benefit nations, as well as save the world, he said.
