12 July 2016
Solar energy can help to run the world without consuming the Earth, at a time when climate change is a global concern.

Cairo, Egypt:  Solar Impulse, the only solar-powered plane capable of flying day and night, arrives to Cairo international airport tomorrow at dawn after a flight lasting for almost 50 hours and 30 minutes. The plane is an ambassador for solar energy, powered solely by photovoltaic cells which provide enough electricity to turn the motors during the day, and charge the batteries which keep it aloft throughout the night.

Power and Automation company ABB, present in Egypt for 90 years, is proving that solar energy can help to run the world without consuming the Earth, at a time when climate change is a global concern.

For thousands of years, Egypt has respected and revered the power of the sun. The arrival of the Solar Impulse plane is a reminder that, at a time when the pollution caused by energy production is putting our planet's future at risk, the sun provides a clean alternative.

ABB's products and solutions enable the energy of the sun's rays, collected by solar power plants, to be transformed, converted and sent to the grid as electricity we can use in homes, offices and factories.

Naji Jreijiri, Managing Director for Egypt, North & Central Africa said "We are delighted that Solar Impulse is in Egypt to shine a spotlight on the huge potential of solar energy. Across the region, ABB is a leader in the integration of renewable and expects to maintain that position as solar power grows in importance. To give a recent example, our technology will ensure that the TOSHKA solar power plant, the first 10 MW grid-connected plant in Egypt, delivers stable, reliable and clean electricity."

As further proof of ABB's solar credentials, the company's technology has enabled the production of almost a quarter of all the power generated from roof top installations in Egypt in the last 2 years. On the roof of ABB's new offices in Cairo, a pilot solar plant has been installed, with a capacity of around 120KW, and the company has donated another Pilot solar installation to the University of Cairo's Faculty of Engineering, due to be inaugurated later this year.

"The future of solar power in Egypt is brighter than ever, with the Government's recent announcement of an increased feed-in tariff for solar installations below 200KW, a clear commitment to increase demand for roof-top installations throughout the country, spearheading a widespread shift towards clean energy sources", added Naji.

ABB in Egypt has the experience, technology and pioneering spirit to join the Egyptian Government towards achieving this goal.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leading global technology company in power and automation that enables utility, industry, and transport & infrastructure customers to improve their performance while reducing their environmental impacts. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.

The first solar-powered airplane

"Solar Impulse 2" is the first prototype light aircraft powered by solar energy, piloted by the Swiss Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borchberg in a trip around the world.

"Solar Impulse 2" features 17248 photovoltaic cells and 4 electric engines, considered  to be the first solar-powered aircraft in the world, which and can fly non-stop at a height of 8,500 meters at 90 km / h. The plane possesses large wings and engines with high efficiency, as well as equipped with a cabin for one person. The four jet engines work on the solar power they get from more than 17,000 photovoltaic cells present on the wings, which provide enough electricity to turn the motors during the day, and charge the batteries which keep it aloft throughout the night.

Solar Impulse wants to demonstrate that clean technologies can achieve impossible goals: everybody could use the plane's technologies on the ground to halve our world's energy consumption, save natural resources and improve our quality of life. This message is being spread by the pilots to the general public, students, key decision-makers and entrepreneurs all over the world.

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Find more information and the latest information about the ABB/ Solar Impulse partnership at www.abb.com/betterworld

© Press Release 2016