Abdullah Saeed Al Habsi, MIoL
Member of the Institute of Leadership (UK)
Emirati independent writer and researcher in security, risk management, operational resilience, leadership, and operations rooms
Rooftop Solar Energy: From International Targets to Everyday Lives
With every climate conference, major figures emerge that make good headlines: millions of homes, billions in investments, and just a few years to achieve a widespread transition. In Antalya, a voluntary target was put forward to double the number of homes using rooftop solar systems worldwide to 300 million by 2030. It is news worth paying attention to, but I prefer to look at it through the window of an ordinary house, where the owner calculates the price of appliances, asks about the warranty, and pictures the coming summer before thinking about international numbers.
The Unique Nature of Rooftops in Egyptian Buildings
In Egypt, a rooftop is practically a space with a life of its own. On top of some houses, you will find water tanks, satellite dishes, and old equipment, while in other neighborhoods there are unused spaces or buildings with roofs that need maintenance. Therefore, discussing the deployment of solar energy cannot begin with the assumption that every roof is the same. The issue requires understanding the building, its load capacity, wiring, and the right to use the roof, particularly in properties owned or managed by multiple residents.
Safety and Responsibility Before Installing Solar Systems
The first thing that concerns me in this file is clarity of responsibility. If a family agrees to install a system and its efficiency changes after several years, who measures the performance? If a water leak occurs due to installation work, who deals with the aftermath? And who reviews electrical safety before operating the equipment? These are not secondary questions that can be postponed until the complaint stage. They are part of the project’s value and of respecting the consumer, and determining the answers to them early on reduces disputes and prevents the loss of money and time.
Does Solar Energy Actually Lower the Electricity Bill?
It is often said that solar energy lowers the electricity bill. That may be a real result under suitable conditions, but it is not the exact same promise for every family. The benefits are affected by consumption patterns, system size, maintenance costs, prevailing tariffs, and whether the production is used directly or requires storage. Therefore, I prefer honest language that presents different scenarios rather than a single enticing number. A citizen capable of making comparisons becomes a partner in the transition, whereas a citizen who hears absolute promises may walk away disappointed.
Vocational Training and the Quality of Solar System Installations
There is another opportunity connected to vocational training much more than to advertisements. Each group of rooftops being prepared needs technicians who know how to check wiring, test insulation, secure work at heights, read performance data, and handle malfunctions. If the market expands faster than training and oversight, installation errors and a market for unreliable spare parts may grow alongside it. What the sector needs is not just an active salesperson, but a professional framework that treats electricity as a service sensitive to safety.
Schools and Public Buildings: Opportunities for Experimentation and Learning
I also believe that schools, health centers, and public buildings may provide a space for structured learning when sites are technically and financially suitable. Small-scale projects can provide clear data on summer and winter performance, actual operating costs, and the lessons engineers and municipalities need. The requirement is not to roll out the experience before it matures, but to use every trial to build knowledge that can be shared with people in clear language. This is how initiatives transform from ribbon-cutting photo ops into institutional expertise.
Drawing on the Emirati Experience While Accounting for the Egyptian Reality
The UAE’s experience in expanding clean energy projects gives countries in the region room to exchange knowledge, but Egypt has its own urban, social, and economic conditions that must guide the design. Large solutions may suit one area, while a narrow street requires careful examination and dialogue among residents. Successful comparison does not replicate a project; rather, it exchanges methods of examination, planning, and operation and adapts them to the local reality.
International Targets Need Financing, Grids, and Incentives
As for the international announcement itself, it is non-binding, and observers have pointed to its need for financing, storage, suitable grids, and consumer incentives. Therefore, I treat it as an invitation to open a practical file, not a pre-granted certificate of success. If we can start with a simple question in every neighborhood about roof safety, investment feasibility, and technician training, we will be closer to a result worth paying attention to. Electricity is a service people live by the rhythm of, and every transition in it should begin with respect for the details of their lives.
A.S. Alhebsi
News Source: Associated Press, November 10, 2026: Associated Press – Original Report
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