Largest solar energy station in Jordan Baynouna launched

AMMAN — Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Saturday attended the launch of the Baynouna solar and photovoltaic energy station, located near the Muwaqar region east of Amman.

With a production capacity of 200 megawatts, the station is the largest project of its kind in Jordan. The station is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar, a global leader in renewable energy, and the Finnish investment and asset management group Taaleri, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a ceremony, attended by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate and Chairman of Masdar, Khasawneh emphasised the strategic and historical relations between the Kingdom and the UAE.  

The prime minister also commended the UAE's efforts in managing the challenges of climate change, and for hosting the UN Climate Summit (COP28) under the presidency of Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. The prime minister pledged that "the Kingdom will spare no effort to ensure the success of this important international event".

Al Jaber said that the opening of the Baynouna station falls in line with the directives of UAE leadership to implement projects that promote sustainable development, spread clean energy solutions on a wide scale and support joint effective climate action with Jordan. 

He also highlighted the project’s contribution to achieving Jordan’s clean energy and climate goals, in addition to its role as a job generator and supporter of economic development. 

Through the Baynouna solar energy station and the Tafileh wind farm project, Masdar supports Jordan’s efforts to provide 29 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, helping the Kingdom reach its goal of achieving 50 per cent renewable energy by the end of the decade. 

Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh noted that the Baynouna station was developed under a power purchase agreement between Masdar and the the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO). 

The station generates over 560 gigawatt/hours of energy each year, an amount sufficient for providing electricity to approximately 160,000 households, Kharabsheh said.  

The energy minister added that the station “helps prevent the emission of 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, which is equivalent to neutralising emissions from around 80,000 vehicles on the roads”.

The Baynouna project was made possible in part through support from International Finance Corporation, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the German Development Bank (KfW) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Peter Ramsay, CEO of the Taaleri Group, said that this “outstanding project” highlights the significance of the partnership between Masdar and Taaleri, two major players in the renewable energy industry.

In 2015, Masdar completed the Tafileh wind farm project, a 117MW commercial wind power facility in Jordan, the first of its kind in the region at the time.

Last November, Masdar signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to explore opportunities for developing renewable energy projects with a total production capacity of up to 2GW.

The UAE is preparing to host the COP28 conference in November and December, with the energy transition process topping the conference’s agenda. The conference, which is the world’s largest gathering of climate and sustainability decision-makers and experts, will attract over 70,000 officials and experts from the public and private sectors. COP28 is set to be held at the Expo in Dubai.