Jordan Advances Renewable Energy Goals And Grid Integration Efforts

Eng. Amani Al-Azzam, the Secretary-General of Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to expanding renewable energy generation despite challenges. Speaking at the inaugural national workshop of the MENALINKS program, titled “Determining the Scope of National Priorities within the Ambitious Development Program for Renewable Energy Projects and Achieving Integration between Energy-Consuming Sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region,” Al-Azzam outlined various measures taken to bolster the security of energy supply while fulfilling Jordan’s climate commitments.

Key among these measures are efforts to strengthen the electrical network and transition towards smart grids, alongside exploring storage solutions such as utilizing water for electricity storage. Al-Azzam highlighted the completion of detailed feasibility studies for electricity storage projects. Additionally, Jordan is actively pursuing electrical connections with neighboring countries and studying infrastructure development to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources.

In a significant move, Jordan has commenced the implementation of time-related electrical tariff systems on an optional basis, with plans for mandatory adoption following the full deployment of smart meters. Al-Azzam emphasized that such measures contribute to cost reduction in various sectors.

Underlining Jordan’s achievements in sustainable development, Al-Azzam noted that renewable energy already accounts for approximately 27% of the kingdom’s electrical energy consumption in 2022, with plans to increase this to 31% by 2030 as outlined in the comprehensive strategy for the energy sector (2020-2030).

Eng. Walid Shaheen, Principal Assistant to the President of the Royal Scientific Society for Sustainability, highlighted the MENALINEX project’s role in providing technical support and enhancing integration between renewable energies and the electrical grid. This regional initiative, supported by the International Climate Initiative and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting renewable energy use.

The workshop, organized by the MENALEX project in collaboration with the Royal Scientific Society and the German consulting company Guidehouse Energy Germany (GmbH), aimed to identify key topics for the program’s implementation over the next six years (2023-2029), aligning with priorities outlined in Jordan’s comprehensive energy sector strategy (2020-2030). Engineer Sawsan Bawarsh moderated the workshop, setting the stage for fruitful discussions on advancing Jordan’s renewable energy goals and grid integration efforts.