Jordan to build 20 MW PV plant with $31m EU funding
The Water Authority of Jordan has gained €30m in funding for a 20-25 MW photovoltaic plant, designed to power up to five water pumping stations across the nation. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will oversee the funding and the project, which has been designed to help Jordan manage its increased population after taking in 1.3 million Syrian refugees. Jordan has used photovoltaic power to aid with the refugee crisis in the past, installing a 6 MW solar PV park at the Azraq refugee camp to help fulfil energy needs.

The EU is providing a €30 million ($31.8 million) grant to help the Water Authority of Jordan build a new solar PV plant to power three-to-five water pumping stations across the country.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will manage the grant funds and supervise the implementation of the project.

The project aims to help the country manage an increased population, which now includes 1.3 million refugees from Syria. Jordan is one of the first countries that Syrians flee to escape the civil war and terrorism threat in their home country next door.

This is not the first time that Jordan has turned to the solar PV technology to better cope with the refugee crisis. Last year, pv magazine reported that Jordan's Azraq refugee camp, located in an inhospitable part of the desert in northern Jordan, is set to install a 6 MW solar PV park to help meet its energy needs.

Project details

Reem Al Jazi, communications office at the EU delegation in Jordan, told pv magazine that the capacity of the new PV plant to power the water pumping stations will be subject to a final feasibilities study. However, it is expected to be a 20 to 25 MW facility or facilities.

Most of the PV installations of this kind are often net metering or wheeling projects. Net metering suits installations where the generated power is consumed where it is generated, while the wheeling option is suitable for projects where the PV project is located far from the demand center.

Al Jazi confirmed this, saying the remuneration of the project will depend on the technology used. Therefore, she added, "if we use onsite PV systems, then we do net metering, but if we use wheeling (if surrounding land for each station is not sufficient to build an onsite facility), then it will be different. Our agreement with EBRD and the ministry of water is to keep both options open, based on land availability."

Finally, Al Jazi told pv magazine that the overall timeframe for the project is 30 months, which includes time for the studies, the tendering and the construction phase.

Jordan’s stellar solar PV success appears at the moment to be somewhat unstoppable.

Popular content This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. Share Ilias Tsagas Greek-born Ilias has written for pv magazine since 2012, reporting on renewable energy news, electricity market developments and energy policy. His geographic area of expertise includes Europe and the MENA region. More articles from Ilias Tsagas Related content Elsewhere on pv magazine...