Prof. Mohamed Hussein, Tanta University President, announced the university’s participation in the prestigious international "Horizon" project. The initiative focuses on advancing knowledge and technology to implement refilling processes in power transformers using biodegradable or recycled insulating fluids, with the overarching aim of fostering a circular economy.

Prof. Hussein explained that the project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon program, with an allocated budget of €1,311,000. It represents a significant step toward transforming the energy sector through the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. The project brings together more than 25 leading universities and industrial institutions from across the globe, reflecting a global commitment to research and innovation in sustainable energy.

Key international partners include:

Europe: University of Cantabria and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain), University of Silesia (Poland), University of Žilina (Slovakia), and the University of West Bohemia (Czech Republic).

The Americas: Institute of Electrical Energy at the University of San Juan and the National Coastal University (Argentina), Bernardo O’Higgins University, University of Santiago, and Federico Santa María Technical University (Chile), University of Valle (Colombia), University of Waterloo (Canada), and both New York University and Western Michigan University (USA).

Asia: Universiti Putra Malaysia.

United Kingdom: University of Manchester.

Tanta University is actively participating through a distinguished research team that includes Prof. Saleh Shalaby, Professor of Engineering Physics, and Prof. Doaa Mokhtar, Professor in the Department of Electrical Power Engineering.

As part of the project, two PhD students from Tanta University specializing in related fields will travel to the University of Cantabria for three months in 2026 and 2027 to conduct essential experimental research. Supervising professors from the partner institutions will oversee their work during one-month academic visits. The year 2025 has been designated as the preparatory phase of the project.

It is worth noting that Prof. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Egypt, attended the official launch of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme on May 21, in the presence of Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt. The event was organized in collaboration with the Ministry, the EU Delegation, and the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology.

Tanta University will undertake vital research tasks within the project, divided into two primary tracks:

1. Analyzing the physical and chemical properties of alternative insulating oils to develop thermal models for power transformers.

2. Conducting thermal analyses of ester-based fluids to create comprehensive thermal models capable of predicting internal temperature distributions in power transformers.