Norway’s Scatec Solar (SSO) plans to invest more than $600 million in Egypt’s solar energy programme over the next two years, a report said.

The company has already initiated engineering and procurement activities in Benban and Zaafarana, the two solar sites in Egypt, reported Daily News Egypt, citing a statement from SSO.

“Topography and geotechnical studies have already been completed, work begun on the environmental and social impact assessment, and weather stations are being installed at the two sites to measure solar irradiation, heat, and soiling losses,” the statement read.

Under Egypt’s new feed-in tariff (FiT) solar energy programme, SSO has secured participation in five projects totalling 250 MW. SSO will be the lead developer in one project, while in four others, it has secured agreements with other developers to participate as equity investor, EPC and O&M provider.

To tackle the nation’s acute power deficit, Egypt has invited proposals from foreign solar energy developers to construct 2.3 GW utility-scale solar plants during 2015-2017.

By 2022, the Government plans to supply 20 percent of installed capacity from renewable energy.  Over the next seven years, the foreign investments required to build 6 GW of solar will be in the range of $9-10 billion.

As solar plants run on free and abundant sun energy, huge benefits many times this investment will be gained by avoiding the cost of importing expensive fossil fuel to run power stations as well as saving precious foreign exchange. In addition, solar energy plants are rapidly constructed, safe, noiseless, non-polluting and clean, involving zero carbon emissions.

SSO CEO Raymond Carlsen said the company will provide training and teach skills to the citizens during the construction of solar plants. Once the Egyptian government issues agreements and permits, the company will work immediately to quickly deliver electricity.

“SSO decided to establish a regional headquarter located in Cairo to support its activities in Egypt,” the statement read. “According to Integrated Power Producer (IPP), SSO takes responsibility not only for developing, financing, and building solar power plants but also for its long-term operation and maintenance.”