Table of Contents
Key Points
- Climate-controlled, solar-powered greenhouses will produce 20 tons of vegetables yearly to boost local food security and productivity.
- The project aligns with Egypt’s 2035 energy goals and aims to cut electricity emissions by 37% under the Paris Agreement.
- The initiative promotes inclusive development through job creation, capacity building, and access to digital agricultural technologies.
Hassan Allam Holding, a privately owned engineering and construction giant led by Egyptian businessman Hassan Allam, has partnered with French industrial heavyweight Schneider Electric to roll out a smart, solar-powered agriculture project in Egypt’s northern Nile Delta.
The initiative aims to address critical rural development needs by integrating advanced technologies across the water, energy, and food systems.
Climate-smart farming in the Nile Delta
Unveiled at Schneider Electric’s “Innovation Day: Buildings of the Future” event in Cairo, the pilot will be deployed in El Nouras, a village of 12,000 near Port Said. Long plagued by unreliable irrigation and low crop yields, the community will now host climate-controlled greenhouses powered entirely by solar energy and managed via Schneider’s EcoStruxure platform.
Each unit is expected to produce up to 20 tons of vegetables annually, bolstering food security, improving economic outcomes, and advancing Egypt’s Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035. The project also supports the country’s Paris Agreement commitment to cut electricity-sector emissions by 37 percent by 2030.
“This project is a model of sustainable integration,” said Merette Elsayed, Chief Commercial Officer at Hassan Allam Holding. “We are delivering smart, clean technologies that make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Smart infrastructure driving inclusive development
Anchored in the “Water-Energy-Food” Nexus—a globally recognized framework for sustainable development—the initiative leverages digital automation and precision agriculture to optimize resource use in a water-stressed region. It is also emblematic of a broader private sector push to close rural infrastructure gaps where access to clean water, power, and modern agriculture remains limited.
Beyond the technological footprint, the project aims to catalyze job creation for both men and women, enhance local skill sets, and support long-term community resilience. It reflects both companies' alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by merging environmental impact with socio-economic empowerment.
A scalable blueprint for rural innovation
Founded in 1936, Hassan Allam Holding is one of the oldest and largest construction firms in the MENA region. Ranked among ENR’s top 250 global contractors, the firm maintains a $6 billion backlog across sectors including energy, logistics, water, and industrial development.
The partnership with Schneider Electric, an automation and energy management leader with operations in over 100 countries, could set a precedent for scalable climate-smart agriculture across other Egyptian villages and similar communities across Africa. Schneider brings deep expertise in IIoT solutions and digital electrification, crucial for modernizing rural economies.
By combining construction know-how with next-gen sustainability tools, the El Nouras initiative could redefine the template for green infrastructure and resilient agriculture in Egypt’s underserved regions.
