An integrated solar combined cycle system (ISCCS) was technically and economically studied for implementation in Egypt with support from the global environment facility (GEF). Both, parabolic trough collector field and volumetric air receiver tower were considered as solar systems. The analysis yielded the net present values (NPV) of the project variants, the incremental solar cost, and the levelised electricity cost (LEC) for both the total and the solar electricity productions. For reference, a: fossil fired combined cycle (CC) power plant of identical annual total electricity production following the same daily load profiles was assumed. The total (mixed) LEC is equal for both ISCCS variants: 3.1 UScent/kWh. The solar LEC is 9.5 UScent/kWh for HTF-trough and 10.2 UScent/kWh for air-tower. The LEC for the reference CC is 2.4 UScent/kWh. A sensitivity analysis evaluated the impacts of changes in discount rate, solar investment, grant disbursement and fuel price on the LEC. The predicted solar incremental cost of both project variants is within the 50 million US$ limit set by the World Bank for a grant from the GEF. The project provides an environmentally beneficial and economically attractive option for renewable power generation in Egypt. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.