Answer
Solar drafting services in Egypt prepare the layout plan, single-line diagram, equipment schedule and application documents that a distribution company reviews for a grid connection. The deciding factor is the current net metering rule set, which has changed several times. Ask for a written scope and check capacity limits with EgyptERA before drawing.
Every grid-connected solar project in Egypt needs a drawing set a distribution company will accept. The question for installers is whether to hire a solar drafting service, buy PV design software, or combine both.
Last updated: November 2026. SurgePV publishes this post and sells solar design software.
This guide covers what drafting services deliver, which rules shape the drawings, what drives cost, and how to choose a provider. Egypt’s net metering rules have changed several times, so the rules section names its sources and dates and points you to the regulator for the current text.
In this guide:
- What solar drafting services in Egypt actually deliver
- Which rules (EgyptERA, net metering, the distribution companies) shape every drawing
- How CAD and design software compare for SLD production
- What typical deliverables look like by project type
- What drives cost, since no national price list exists
- How to choose a provider and what to ask
Draft Egyptian rooftop projects from one model
See how SurgePV covers roof modeling, array layout, shading, bill of materials and proposal output before drawings go to the distribution company.
Book a DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page · No commitment required · 20 minutes
What Are Solar Drafting Services in Egypt?
Solar drafting services in Egypt are technical providers, usually staffed by electrical and structural engineers, who produce the drawings and documents required to permit, finance and connect a photovoltaic system to the grid.
These services sit between the sales conversation and the physical installation. A customer agrees to a solar project. The installer or EPC then needs a plan set showing that the system is safe, compliant and sized correctly. That plan set is what drafting services produce.
Who Provides Solar Drafting in Egypt
The market has four broad types of providers:
- Independent engineering offices. Small firms that serve several installers on a per-project basis.
- EPC in-house design teams. Larger EPCs employ engineers who handle residential rooftops through to ground mounts.
- Freelance drafters. Individual engineers offering CAD work. Quality control is the buyer’s responsibility.
- Software-enabled design services. Providers that combine automated layout with human review for complex projects.
What Makes Egyptian Solar Drafting Different
Egyptian drafting is not generic CAD work. Three factors stand out.
Capacity rules shape system size. Net metering rules limit how large a customer’s plant can be, so the drafter needs the current limit before sizing. The next section covers the rules and their sources.
Self-consumption matters. Under net metering, surplus energy is settled at a price set by rule, not at the retail tariff. A design that maximizes export instead of matching the customer’s load may not give the economics the customer expects.
Climate drives the engineering. Egypt has hot summers and dusty desert sites. Cable derating for high temperature, module temperature coefficients and soiling loss should appear in the design. A drafter who copies a template from a cooler climate can undersize cables and overstate yield.
Why Solar Drafting Matters in the Egyptian Market
Drafting sits on the critical path. Mounting a rooftop system can be fast. Approval is the slow part: the distribution company’s technical review, the grid connection and the agreement each add time. Every delay in drafting delays everything after it.
The Commercial and Industrial Segment
Commercial and industrial (C&I) projects are more complex than residential ones. They often involve:
- Multiple roof planes with different tilts and orientations
- Structural checks for industrial buildings with non-standard loads
- Net metering modeling for larger systems
- Battery storage for peak shaving and self-consumption
- Yield reports for financing
Each requirement adds deliverables to the drafting scope. A simple layout plan is no longer enough. C&I installers need drafting partners who can produce full engineering packages, or a solar proposal software workflow that combines technical drawings with financial modeling.
Utility-Scale Projects Need Specialist Drafters
Utility-scale projects, such as the Benban Solar Park in Aswan, need civil and geotechnical drawings, medium-voltage and high-voltage connection design coordinated with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and grid studies. Yield simulations for lenders are usually produced in dedicated bankable-simulation tools.
No single software platform covers all of this. Utility-scale EPCs typically combine design software for preliminary layout, specialist firms for civil and electrical engineering, and consultants for grid studies. For commercial rooftops, see our commercial solar page.
Egyptian Rules That Shape Solar Drafting
Two things govern the drawings: the regulator’s net metering rules and the distribution company’s technical review.
EgyptERA and Net Metering
The Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EgyptERA) regulates the electricity sector, including net metering for solar. The rules have changed more than once. This guide cites the dated sources below. Check the regulator for the text in force today.
According to Renewable Energy Magazine (18 June 2020), a decree issued on 28 April 2020 took effect on 20 May 2020. It set these main points:
Source: Renewable Energy Magazine, 18 June 2020, describing the April 2020 decree. These figures may have changed since, so treat them as a dated reference and not the current rule.
The same report adds three design-relevant conditions. The plant must sit on the customer’s own property, on a rooftop or ground-mounted within the facility’s boundary. Its capacity may not exceed the customer’s maximum load in the fiscal year before commercial operation. And a licensed distributor cannot be the applicant for a project on its own network.
Earlier rules differed. Daily News Egypt (7 March 2020) reported that EgyptERA had dropped an earlier net metering scheme of up to 300 MW and proposed a new one, which shows how quickly the framework has moved. For the glossary definitions, see net metering and net billing. For the incentive side, see solar incentives in Egypt.
Key Takeaway
The capacity limit is an input to the drawing, not a detail. Get the current limit and the customer’s prior-year peak load in writing before the drafter sizes the system. A design that exceeds the limit is a rejected design.
The Distribution Company Review
The local distribution company reviews the technical package. Older regulatory material described by secondary sources lists an electrical diagram of the project and the proposed connection point, technical specifications and component test certificates among the application documents. Requirements differ by company and over time, so ask each one for its current checklist and submission format.
Key items a drafter should show on the SLD:
| Item | What the drafter should show |
|---|---|
| Point of connection | Where the plant meets the customer’s installation and the network |
| Protection scheme | Overcurrent, overvoltage and earth-fault protection as the distribution company requires |
| Anti-islanding | How the system stops energizing the grid during an outage |
| Metering | Bidirectional meter placement and arrangement |
| Disconnects | AC and DC isolation clearly shown |
| Earthing and surge protection | Grounding points and surge devices |
| Capacity declaration | System size within the applicable limit |
A missing protection symbol or an incorrect meter arrangement can trigger a rejection and cost days or weeks. The exact protection settings and device ratings come from the distribution company’s requirements, not from a generic template.
International Standards
Egyptian solar designs commonly reference IEC standards for equipment and installation, including IEC 62446-1 for PV system documentation and commissioning tests. Check the standard itself for the current edition and requirements before you cite a clause on a drawing.
CAD and Design Software for SLD Production
Egyptian drafting runs on two kinds of tools: general CAD and solar design software.
CAD and Manual SLD Production
AutoCAD-type CAD remains common for electrical drawings. It gives full control over every line and symbol, and distribution companies can read its output.
Strengths:
- Full control over each detail of the drawing
- Familiar to engineers and reviewers
- Compatible with legacy project archives
Weaknesses:
- No native PV intelligence, so every label, breaker rating and conductor size is entered by hand
- Every change needs a manual redraw
- No built-in shading, yield or financial analysis
Design Software
Solar design software builds the layout, shading, electrical outputs and financial model from one project record. SurgePV’s published scope covers 3D roof modeling, solar array layout, shading analysis, energy-yield modeling, financial modeling, electrical workflow support, bill-of-materials output and proposal generation. Its outputs support design and documentation work. They do not replace approval by the responsible engineer, the distribution company or the regulator.
For a closer look at the yield side, see solar simulation software and the glossary entry on solar irradiance.
Shading and Yield Analysis
Strong irradiance does not remove the need for shading analysis. Rooftop systems in dense neighborhoods face shade from water tanks, parapets and neighboring buildings. Shadow analysis on a 3D model helps avoid string mismatch and overstated production. A flat CAD drawing does not model this.
Pro Tip
Photograph every rooftop obstruction on site visits, including water tanks and parapets. Give the designer their heights. A shading model is only as good as the heights entered.
Typical Deliverables by Project Type
The scope varies with project size and complexity. These are typical, not mandatory. Agree the actual list with the distribution company and your client.
| Deliverable | Smaller rooftop | Commercial and industrial | Utility-scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site layout plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Single-line diagram | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stringing configuration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Equipment schedule | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Application documents | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Structural calculations | Sometimes | Usually | Yes |
| Shading analysis | Often | Yes | Yes |
| Yield report for lenders | Rarely | Sometimes | Yes |
| Protection coordination | Rarely | Sometimes | Yes |
| Civil and geotechnical drawings | No | Rarely | Yes |
| MV/HV connection design and grid study | No | Rarely | Yes |
The SLD Is the Critical Deliverable
The single-line diagram is usually the first document the distribution company reviews. It should show the connection point, the AC and DC disconnects, inverter placement and ratings, protection devices, earthing and bonding, and the metering arrangement. For more on how an SLD fits the permit step, see our guide to the single-line diagram for solar PV permits.
What Drives Solar Drafting Cost in Egypt
No published price list exists for solar drafting in Egypt, and this guide does not quote price ranges because none could be sourced. The same goes for official application fees: ask the distribution company for its current schedule.
| Cost driver | What to ask the provider |
|---|---|
| System size | Is the quote per project or per kW, and what size does it assume? |
| Scope | Are structural calculations, shading and a yield report included? |
| Revisions | How many rounds of distribution company comments are included? |
| Application support | Does the provider prepare the application documents? |
| Language | Are deliverables in Arabic, English or both? |
| Currency and date | Is the quote in EGP or USD, and until when is it valid? |
| Turnaround | What is the delivery time, and is there a rush rate? |
Compare scope before price. A cheap quote that excludes revisions and application support can cost more than a complete one.
Pro Tip
Do not compare software and manual drafting on price alone. A draft that is rejected by the distribution company costs you weeks of delay. The real cost is total project cycle time, not the drafting invoice.
Manual Drafting vs Solar Design Software in Egypt
The choice is not binary. Many installers use both. The question is where to draw the line.
When Manual Drafting Wins
- The project is large or custom. Civil engineering, MV/HV connection design and grid studies need specialist engineers.
- Custom structural work is required. An old industrial roof needing reinforcement needs a structural engineer, not software.
- Protection coordination with the grid operator is needed. This takes local knowledge and a signed engineering review.
- Volume is low. At a few projects a year, a per-project fee can be cheaper than a subscription. Compare quotes with your own numbers.
- Lenders require a specific report. Check which simulation format the lender accepts.
When Software Wins
- You repeat similar rooftop projects. Time savings compound across many projects. Measure your own before-and-after time per project.
- Speed is a competitive advantage. Fast turnaround lets you respond while the lead is warm.
- You need layout, yield and financials together. Self-consumption and payback analysis belong in the same project record as the drawing. See the generation and financial tool.
- You want to reduce transcription errors. Generating the SLD and equipment schedule from one model cuts retyped values.
- You need bilingual proposals. Ask any vendor whether its proposals support Arabic, and see an example before you rely on it.
The Hybrid Model
The most common approach is hybrid:
- Software for design and proposals. Layout, shading, electrical outputs, yield and financial modeling in one platform.
- Manual drafting for structural and MV/HV work. Hire a specialist engineer for the projects that need one.
- External consultants for grid studies. For utility-scale projects.
Types of Solar Drafting Options in Egypt
The market has providers in several categories. This guide does not rank named providers, because claims about a company should come from its own published materials.
| Option | Typical strength | Typical limit |
|---|---|---|
| Independent engineering offices | Fast turnaround and local distribution company knowledge | Capacity and scope vary |
| Regional engineering firms | Wider service including structural work | Longer queues and higher fees are common |
| Freelance drafters | Flexible and low cost | Quality and liability cover vary |
| EPC design teams | Bundled into the EPC contract | Rarely offered standalone |
| Design software | Repeatable layout, yield and proposal work | Still needs engineer review and distribution company formats |
Key Takeaway
Match the option to the project. Software suits repeat rooftop work, specialist studios suit custom structural and MV/HV work, and most installers end up using both.
How to Choose a Solar Drafting Service Provider in Egypt
Selecting a provider affects every project timeline. Use this checklist.
| Criterion | Why it matters | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Grid connection track record | Rejections are expensive | Ask for recent SLDs accepted by a distribution company |
| Net metering experience | Capacity errors cause rejections | Ask for completed applications |
| Distribution company experience | Submission formats differ | Ask which companies they have worked with |
| Professional standing | Drafting errors create liability | Ask who signs and under which registration |
| Revision policy | Rejections and client changes are normal | Get the number of included rounds in writing |
| Turnaround | Drafting speed gates the project | Get written delivery commitments |
| Language | Documents may need Arabic | Confirm deliverable languages |
Red Flags
- No accepted SLD examples. A drafter working in Egypt should have approved SLDs to show, with client details removed.
- Fixed price for every project. A small home system and a large commercial roof cannot cost the same to draft properly.
- Outdated capacity knowledge. A drafter who cannot say which net metering rules apply today is not tracking the market.
- No revision allowance. Every project has at least one round of changes.
- No climate adjustment. Drafts that ignore high-temperature derating and soiling can be unsafe and overstate yield.
Questions to Ask Before Signing
- Can you show an SLD accepted by my distribution company recently?
- What is your revision policy, and how many rounds are included?
- Do you prepare the net metering application, or do I handle that separately?
- What is your turnaround for a project of this size, and do you offer a rush service?
- How do you account for high-temperature derating and soiling?
- Which capacity limit and load data are you designing to?
Common Mistakes When Outsourcing Solar Drafting in Egypt
Mistake 1: Treating Drafting as a Commodity
The lowest-price drafter is rarely the cheapest. A cheap draft with a missing protection symbol costs weeks of distribution company delay.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Capacity Rule
Sizing a system without the customer’s prior-year peak load or the current limit risks a rejected application. Collect the data first.
Mistake 3: Separating Drafting From Financial Modeling
A layout without a financial model is half a deliverable. Customers want bill savings and payback before they sign. Drafting that produces only drawings forces you to build the financial case separately.
Mistake 4: Not Checking Distribution Company Requirements
Distribution companies may use different submission formats and review habits. A drafter familiar with one may produce SLDs another rejects on formatting.
Mistake 5: Skipping Structural Checks on Commercial Roofs
Rooftop installations need structural verification. A drafting service that supplies only electrical drawings leaves you exposed if the roof cannot carry the load. Confirm structural work is included, or hire a structural engineer.
When to Use SurgePV for Egyptian Solar Drafting
For standard rooftop projects, solar design software like SurgePV can handle layout, shading, electrical workflow support, bill of materials and proposal output from one project record. Manual drafters then focus on complex, custom or utility-scale work.
SurgePV does not publish a claim that its output is accepted by any specific Egyptian distribution company, so ask for a sample and test it against your company’s checklist. See the pricing page for plan details.
Try your own Egyptian project in a demo
Bring a recent rooftop and its distribution company checklist, and see which parts of the drawing package come out of one SurgePV project.
See a Live WalkthroughWant the price first? Read the SurgePV pricing page · No commitment required
Conclusion
Solar drafting services in Egypt are moving from a manual, per-project cost into a hybrid capability that combines software with specialist engineering. Three actions to take this week:
- Audit your current drafting cost per project. Include revisions, resubmissions and delay costs.
- Verify your drafter’s grid connection track record. Ask for recent SLDs accepted by your distribution company.
- Test a hybrid workflow. Run a few similar rooftop projects through design software and your next complex project through a specialist. Compare total cycle time and cost with your own numbers.
To see how SurgePV fits the design side, book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are solar drafting services in Egypt?
Solar drafting services in Egypt are technical providers that create single-line diagrams (SLDs), layout plans and grid connection documents for photovoltaic systems. They produce the drawings a distribution company reviews before a net metering connection. Most are staffed by electrical engineers who know the local grid rules and international standards.
How much do solar drafting services cost in Egypt?
No published price list for solar drafting in Egypt could be sourced for this guide. Cost depends on system size, whether structural calculations and a bankable yield report are included, and how many revisions the distribution company asks for. Request written quotes that list the scope, revisions and currency.
What permits and approvals does solar drafting support in Egypt?
Drafting deliverables support the distribution company’s technical review and the net metering or grid connection application. The single-line diagram and equipment list are what the reviewer checks first. Exact requirements come from EgyptERA and the distribution company, so ask for their current checklist.
Can solar design software replace manual drafting services in Egypt?
Partly. Software can speed up layout, shading, bill of materials and yield work for repeat rooftop projects, but the SLD must still match the distribution company’s requirements and be reviewed by a qualified engineer. Utility-scale, medium-voltage and custom structural work usually needs specialist engineering.
What deliverables should I expect from an Egyptian solar drafting service?
Expect a site layout plan, a single-line diagram with protection and metering, a stringing configuration, an equipment schedule and the application documents for the distribution company. Commercial roofs often add structural calculations and a yield report. Agree the list in writing before work starts.
What is the net metering capacity limit for solar in Egypt?
It depends on the rule set in force, which has changed. A decree issued in April 2020, as reported by Renewable Energy Magazine, capped a customer’s plant at its prior-year peak load and 20 MW per project. Check the limits in force with EgyptERA and your distribution company before sizing.
What is the difference between solar drafting and solar design software?
Solar drafting services produce technical drawings, often in CAD, for a per-project fee. Solar design software builds the layout, shading, electrical outputs and financial model from one project record. In practice many installers combine both, using software for repeat work and a drafter for custom projects.
Where this fits
This article is part of SurgePV's Solar Design hub, which works through the topic from first principles to the decisions a project team actually has to make.
