Scaling Up Distributed Solar in Emerging Markets

dc.creatorSakr, Dalia
dc.creatorHuenteler, Joern
dc.creatorMatsuo, Tyeler
dc.creatorKhanna, Ashish
dc.date2017-06-21T20:17:02Z
dc.date2017-06-21T20:17:02Z
dc.date2017-06
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-01T00:43:19Z
dc.descriptionLike many emerging markets, the Arab Republic of Egypt is keen to promote distributed solar, defined here as systems below 500 kilowatts, but has struggled to create conditions for growth in the sector. The aim of this paper is to identify policy actions to unlock the distributed solar market for on-grid and off-grid applications, using Egypt as a case study. The paper calculates the rate of return on investment for different distributed solar applications, identifies nonfinancial barriers to scaling up distributed solar, and derives policy implications. For on-grid applications, the analysis finds that neither net metering nor the feed-in tariff makes distributed solar financially attractive, despite recent reductions in electricity subsidies and adjustments of feed-in tariff levels in October 2016. For off-grid applications, the profitability of distributed solar depends highly on the local price of diesel: distributed solar is viable only in areas where diesel is not available at the official (subsidized) price. In addition, several nonfinancial barriers limit the scalability of the distributed solar market. These findings indicate that the distributed solar market in Egypt will remain a niche market in the next few years without strengthened government support. First, for on-grid applications, the net metering scheme should be kept in place until a bankable feed-in tariff has been established. Second, for off-grid applications, the government should explore interventions to unlock opportunities in the agriculture and tourism sectors. Third, the government should strengthen private-sector activity in the sector, including by addressing nonfinancial barriers, such as transaction costs and gaps in the availability of data, and by building capacity among users, suppliers, and financial institutions.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.formattext/plain
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/815911497878875622/Scaling-up-distributed-solar-in-emerging-markets-the-case-of-the-Arab-Republic-of-Egypt
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/27301
dc.identifier10.1596/1813-9450-8103
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/409870
dc.languageEnglish
dc.languageen_US
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relationPolicy Research Working Paper;No. 8103
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rightshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo
dc.rightsWorld Bank
dc.subjectSOLAR
dc.subjectOFF-GRID PV
dc.subjectDISTRIBUTED ENERGY
dc.subjectMETERING
dc.subjectPHOTOVOLTAIC
dc.titleScaling Up Distributed Solar in Emerging Markets
dc.titleThe Case of the Arab Republic of Egypt
dc.typeWorking Paper
dc.typeDocument de travail
dc.typeDocumento de trabajo

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