Jordan will increase its solar energy target by more than 65 per cent by 2020 with 500 megawatts expected to come online by the end of next year, according to the country’s energy minister.
The kingdom had originally targeted 600MW of solar energy by 2020, but now that figure has been raised as a result of demand. "By the end of next year we will have 500MW and a target of 1,000MW by 2020," said Ibrahim Saif, the energy minister.
Jordan is moving ahead with projects as the country faces more pressure to ramp up renewable energy plans to help decrease its dependence on energy imports, which cost about US$3.6 billion, or almost 14 per cent of its GDP.
The increase is expected to create opportunities for contractors and suppliers from the UAE and elsewhere.
Abu Dhabi-based Enviromena Power Systems expects to add 102MW to the grid in Jordan by the second quarter of next year.
“The value proposition of solar in Jordan today is so compelling that 1,000MW is not an unreasonable or unachievable target for the government to have installed by 2020,” said Enviromena’s chief executive Sami Khoreibi.
The Norwegian solar panel manufacturer REC said that Jordan was a key area of growth for the company as it is just entering the market. “We believe that for commercial solar rooftops — mixing Dubai and Jordan — we will see around 5-8MW installations this year, which is about 10-12 installations,” said Luc Grare, the senior vice president of sales and marketing.
The Swiss company ABB announced yesterday that it had secured a contract with Spain’s Martifer Solar to help supply 50MW of solar capacity.
The deal covers four solar plants, located near the cities of Ma’an and Mafraq.
The European company will help to design the plants that are scheduled for completion in the next three months.
“These innovative and technologically advanced solar projects are a big first step towards boosting Jordan’s energy security and reducing its reliance on imported oil and gas,” said Ahmad Alhussein, the local manager of Discrete Automation and Motion, in a statement from ABB.
This week Ahmad Belhoul, the chief executive of Masdar, said that Jordan was an important market for the Abu Dhabi-based clean energy company and it would continue to explore various projects in the country.
The master strategy for Jordan’s energy sector includes a target of 1,800MW, or 10 per cent of the country’s energy supply, to come from renewable sources in 2020.
lgraves@thenational.ae
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