wiredInUSA January 2020

Saudi solar first

Adding to the mix

Image: Acwa Power

Jordan is incorporating more renewables into its grid in a move to reduce its energy import bill. Siemens Gamesa has signed an agreement with Jordanian state-backed Al Samra Power Company to operate an 80MW wind station. The power plant is located in the Ma’an wind farm, a $148 million scheme funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. Jordan, which imports over 94 percent of its energy needs, is looking to diversify its grid by incorporating solar and wind. Around 285MW of wind and 771MW of wind and solar power capacity was integrated into its grid during 2018, and the kingdom aims to raise its renewable capacity to 2.7GW by 2021. Al Samra Power Company operates 1.24GW power capacity, the equivalent of 40 percent of electricity consumed in Jordan. Jordan has also considered building a nuclear reactor as part of the country’s energy mix.

Saudi Arabia has connected its first solar power project to the grid. The 300MW Sakaka solar photovoltaic power project, under development by Acwa Power in the northern Al Jouf region, was expected to be in full commercial operation before the beginning of 2020. Saudi Arabia is moving away from burning crude oil to generate power, switching first to gas-fired plants and now moving towards wind and solar schemes, as it seeks to release its crude oil for the export market. The kingdom recently revised its renewable energy target to 27.3GW to be achieved by 2024, up from the previous 9.5GW target.

wiredInUSA January 2020

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