National Economy
The population of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Jordan) is approximately 10.40 million people[1]. In 2021, 99.9 % of the people in this Southwest Asian country had access to electricity[2].
In 2021, Jordan’s economy was ranked 66th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP)[3]. The country’s economy is dependent on the export[4] of fertilizers, garments, medicaments, calcium phosphate, and gold.
Environment Policies
In 2016, Jordan signed the Paris Climate Agreement[5], committing to an unconditional 1.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to a business-as-usual scenario.
In 2020, Jordan announced the National Energy Strategy 2020-2030 which focuses on increasing new renewable energy projects, reducing carbon emissions, and reducing the reliance on oil and natural gas imports.
In 2020, utilities used natural gas (75.4 %), renewable energy (16.2 %), and oil (8.4 %) to generate electricity[6] in Jordan. Solar and wind are the primary types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Jordan.
In 2021, Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources, H.E. Eng. Hala Adel Al-Zawati announced[7] that Jordan intends to generate 30% of its electricity from wind and solar by 2030.
Recent renewable energy projects in Jordan include:
- 1 MW Wind Project – In October 2019, South Korean company KEPCO commissioned a wind project at a site approximately 93 miles south of the nation’s capital, Amman
- 8 MW Wind Project – In September 2021, South Korean company Daehan Wind Power commissioned the Daehan Wind Power project at a site approximately 60 miles south of Amman.
- 50 MW Solar Project – In September 2021, UAE renewable energy company AMEA Power commissioned the Al Husainiyah Solar project at a site approximately 125 miles south of Amman.
- 50 MW Solar Project – U.S. renewable energy company RAI Energy is continuing work on Jordan Solar Two project in Amman. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2022.
- 45 MW Wind Project – In November 2020, UAE renewable energy company Alcazar Energy commissioned the Shobak wind project at a site approximately 80 miles south-southwest of Amman.
- 24 MW Solar Project – In September 2016, Canadian solar company AMP Solar Group commissioned the Jordan Solar One project at a site approximately 25 miles northeast of Amman.
Conclusions
In 2021, Jordan imported 94% of the nation’s energy requirements. In 2020, Jordan spent over U.S. $1.87 Billion for imported hydrocarbons[8].
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting in the United States, Canada, and the European Union to place embargos on Russian exports, including fossil fuels. As a result, the price for crude oil and liquified natural gas have both increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Jordan has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, wind, and biomass. Jordan is now accelerating the move to renewable energy due to sky-rocketing fossil fuel prices.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.
[1] Jordan (2022) – July 5, 2022, www.worldmeters.info
[2] The World Bank Group, Access to Electricity (% of Population – Jordan
[3] Gross Domestic Product By Country 2021 – Worldometer
[4] The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) – Jordan
[5] Carbon Brief “Paris 2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”
[6] Our World In Data, Jordan: Energy Country Profile by Hanna Ritchie and Max Roser
[7] The National News, “Jordan plans to grow renewables to 30% of energy mix by 2030” by Jennifer Gnana, 26 January 2021
[8] The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) – Jordan