How many solar projects are there in Jordan?

(Abu-Rumman et al. 2020; MEMR 2015). The first round (2012–2015) was focused on the southern region of Ma’an, with a total capacity of 200 MW solar projects and 117 wind farms. The Jordanian government then used the competitive bidding process for the second and third rounds.

Can Jordan improve energy security?

Jordan has significant potential to succeed in scaling up its use of renewables, particularly in electricity generation, which could reduce energy prices for consumers and improve energy security.

How much solar radiation does Jordan receive?

The country is located in the global sunbelt, which receives high solar radiation on its horizontal surface. Jordan has approximately 316 days of sunshine annually and the sun’s elevation angle rises to 83 degrees in the summer, resulting in a direct solar radiation intensity of between 5 and 7 (kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m 2).

How much geothermal energy is used in Jordan?

According to the International Geothermal Association (IGA 2021), the currently used geothermal energy capacity is 153.3 MW thermal (MW TH), which does not exceed 0.42% of the total geothermal energy resources in Jordan. Geothermal energy can be used in various applications such as fish farming, greenhouse heating, and the food industry.

Why is the energy sector a problem in Jordan?

The energy sector poses one of the largest challenges for the Jordanian economy because it directly influences economic growth. The country’s high dependence on imported intensive fossil-fuel sources (93% in 2021) has overburdened the national budget.

How much energy does Jordan generate from biogas?

According to studies (Alnhoud et al. 2021; Al-Hamamre et al. 2017) the biogas produced can generate around 24% of Jordan’s primary energy consumed in natural gas form (656 tonnes) in 2012. As such, the Jordanian government planned to implement 40–50 MW of waste-to-energy projects in 2020.