Mubasher: Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, has completed a key step in the development of the largest solar power plant in Jordan, according to the company’s press release.
On Saturday, Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, and Abdul Fattah Daradkeh, CEO of National Electric Power Company, Jordan’s state electricity provider, signed a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) for a 200-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) plant, at a ceremony in Amman attended by Hani Al Mulqi, Prime Minister of Jordan.
Jordan’s largest solar power plant will be linked to Al Muwaqqar substation located approximately 10 kilometres outside Amman. Once connected to the national grid, it will supply the annual power needs of around 110,000 homes and displace an estimated 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to the statement.
The agreement to develop a PV plant follows the inauguration of the 117 megawatts Tafila wind farm in Jordan in December. The solar power plant and Tafila will help Jordan reach its 2020 goal of producing 15% of its domestic electricity needs from renewable sources.
Today, Jordan imports around 96% of its energy at a cost equivalent to 20% of its national GDP. Combined, the two projects will account for nearly 18% of the 1.8 gigawatts of renewable energy Jordan plans to install by 2020.
Now in its tenth year of operations, Masdar has invested US$2.7 billion in the development of renewable energy and clean technologies in the MENA region and international markets, and today has 2.7GW of gross power generating capacity either deployed or under construction, the company added in its statement.
