Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to explore collaboration in renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 2 gigawatts (GW).
The MoU was signed by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, special envoy for climate change and chairman of Masdar, and His Excellency Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, the Jordanian minister of energy and mineral resources, on the sidelines of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Al Jaber said, “This new MoU to explore the development of 2-GW capacity is a testament to the close brotherly relationship between the UAE and Jordan, as well as our shared commitment to sustainability and decarbonization. As we look toward hosting COP28 in the UAE next year, Masdar is dedicated to supporting our neighboring countries in the Middle East in their energy transitions.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Kharabsheh stated, “Jordan is already a pioneer in renewable energy development in the region, where it currently produces around 29% of its electricity from renewable sources and aims to increase this share to 50% by 2030. We believe in the collaborative work, whether on the regional or national level, and the partnership with our brothers in the UAE and Masdar under this agreement will help our country to reach our sustainability ambitions.”
Along with exploration of the development and investment in renewable energy projects with a production capacity of up to 2 GW, the MoU also includes the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the areas of renewable energy and infrastructure development, including electricity transformation, distribution and exportation.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive officer, Masdar, noted, “Masdar has been a proud partner of Jordan for nearly 10 years, helping to deliver pioneering renewable energy projects that contribute to the country’s sustainable development.”
In 2015, Masdar delivered the Tafila Wind Farm in Jordan, the first commercial utility-scale wind power project in the Middle East. The 117-megawatt (MW) wind farm increased the country’s total power capacity by 3%.
Masdar was also the developer and lead partner on the 200 MW Baynouna project, located east of Amman, which is the largest single solar energy project in Jordan. Since 2020, the project has been meeting the annual power needs of approximately 160,000 homes, displacing an estimated 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. It generates 563 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year, equivalent to 4% of the annual energy consumption of Jordan.
