Having added nearly 300MW in wind and solar energy to its power grid in 2018, Jordan is continuing its push forward as the Middle East’s renewables hegemon. The energy ministry held its third renewables bid round this year which saw 150MW of solar projects and 50MW of wind offered up. US-based Rai Energy was selected to head a 50MW solar project, the Jordan Solar Two at Ma’an, with construction to begin in 2019 and last a year.
China’s Jinko Solar – the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer – is linked to one of the remaining projects, along with Canadian Solar and a host of other firms, with results expected to continue to trickle in as awards are made. Financing is unlikely to prove a holdup: long-time Jordan renewables financiers the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) both stressed keenness to bankroll round three projects at the Jordan International Energy Summit this week in Amman. (CONTINUED - 855 WORDS)
