Is the Middle East’s Solar Market Breakthrough Finally Happening?

A new joint report examines the shifting tide for fuel subsidies and what it means for solar markets.

  

Solar’s time has (nearly) come in the Middle East.

According to GTM Research's new Global Solar Market Attractiveness Index, the region is home to some of the most attractive markets for new-build solar in the world, and a steady stream of internationally competitive tenders — including more than 8 gigawatts expected in 2018 — has created a sizable pipeline of utility-scale projects in the Gulf, driven prices to record lows and caught the attention of the world.

Jordan's Water Ministry to Cut Energy Use by Half by 2019

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation is scheduled to reduce its energy use, which constitutes 14 per cent of the country’s total energy consumption, by half in early 2019, according to officials.

The goal of cutting down 50 million kilowatt hours per year is expected to be attained within 15 months, according to ministry’s officials, who noted that it will be achieved after a multi-million-dollar project to rehabilitate the country’s main pumping stations and a number of well fields is completed.

Jordan Turbocharges Distributed Solar

Conditions in Jordan are perfect for rapid growth in commercial and industrial solar.

The country recently abolished a limit on the nameplate capacity of renewable energy plants connected to the grid that can benefit from net metering.

Net metering permits a consumer of electricity generated by a renewable energy plant to feed any excess generation to the national grid in return for credits on future utility bills.

Jordan's parliament adopts energy efficiency law

Arwa reported on last week’s parliamentary vote to shelve Jordan’s first nuclear reactor. Exploratory mining for uranium was also stopped. The program will surely resurrect once new feasibility analyses are complete, but against a backdrop of a pressurized economy, scarce water sources and corruption investigations, success is anyone’s guess.

The time is now for Jordan’s renewable proponents to demonstrate the viability of alternative energy. Take a page from regional legend David and Goliath, and slay the nuclear beast.

Desertec plans get boosts from MENA and EU renewable policies

For both the interim Mediterranean Solar Plan and Desertec, the creation of renewable policy and renewable job skills development in both the potential energy-supplying countries and the potential energy-receiving countries is necessary.