Ministry report says energy goals to be attained ahead of time

AMMAN — A report by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources expected the generation capacity from renewable energy resources to increase to 2,400 megawatts (MW) by 2021. 

If the aforementioned expectations are met, renewable energy would constitute 20 per cent of the Kingdom’s total electricity generation capacity, compared with 1 per cent in 2014, the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

As such, the goal of the ministry’s energy strategy will be achieved before the 2025 deadline, the report said.  

According to the ministry’s report, renewable energy projects that are set for completion in 2021 will have a total capacity of 1,270MW.

The solar energy systems that have been linked to electricity distribution grids in various sectors have reached a total capacity of 360MW, as solar panels now cover an overall area of 4,500 dunums. 

The Energy Ministry has implemented so far the first phase of solar energy projects, 10 in Maan, one in Aqaba and one in Irbid at a total capacity of 204MW. 

All 12 of the first-phase solar energy projects began operating in 2016, according to Petra.

The second phase includes the implementation of four projects each at a capacity of 50MW for a total capacity of 200MW, all of which will be in Mafraq, three in the governorate’s development zone and one in the town of Safawi. 

The third phase will include the implementation of solar energy projects in Maan at a total capacity of 150MW, which are expected to become operational in 2020. 

Wind energy projects are all located in the south of Jordan, the most notable of which is the Jordan Wind Project Company’s project in Tafileh, at a capacity of 117MW.

Six more wind projects, with a capacity of 420MW, will also be executed, according to the ministry, three in Tafileh and three in Maan.