JORDAN WANTS MONEY FOR NEW ENERGY

More investment needed for renewables – officials
Jordan Luck, April 3, 2009 (Jordan Times)

"…At the closing of the Euro-Jordanian Renewable Energy Conference and Expo (EJREC), private sector representatives and government officials discussed how to create a business climate to encourage [investment in the Kingdom’s renewable energy sector]...Minister of Industry and Trade Amer Hadidi recommended reviewing the National Energy Strategy, which calls for increasing renewable energy resources from 1 per cent to 7 per cent over the next six years, a goal which he said was not “aggressive” enough compared to other countries.

"Ziyad Jibril, director of the Energy Ministry's renewable energy department, said the main challenge was attracting the $1.4-2.1 billion (2007 prices) in investments required to meet the energy strategy’s goals, noting that despite expressions of interest, very few foreign companies submit tenders for projects…"

Great sun, very much worth buying in on. (click to enlarge)

"Jibril said the renewable energy draft law will allow the ministry to directly float tenders…[and] receive unsolicited offers for energy projects from both local and international private sector entities…[R]enewable energy technologies [were exempted] from sales tax and customs last year…[and] the lease of land for renewable energy projects is free.

"Alongside its ongoing wind power projects, Jordan will continue to focus on Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) projects in Aqaba and southeastern regions, and exert efforts to boost solar water heater penetration in Jordan from 15 to 30 per cent by 2015…[T]he terrain of Wadi Rum would be best suited to apply [CSP] technology, using the cliffs to angle mirrors down to a plant at the surface level."

Good enough wind, too. How is the desert on turbines? (click to enlarge)

"Despite the abundance of sunlight and the potential of CSP technology, the ministry insists that solar energy is still not developed enough to become a major pillar of the Kingdom’s mid-term energy strategy…The ministry will [consider] subsidising solar technology…

"As part of the revised National Energy Strategy, the ministry hopes to meet 29 per cent of Jordan’s energy needs from natural gas, 14 per cent from oil shale, 10 per cent from renewable energy resources and 6 per cent from nuclear energy…In addition to 600 megawatts (MW) of wind and 300-600MW of solar energy, the government is looking to generate 30-50MW of biomass by 2020. With the advancement of wind power technology, the ministry may double its goal of 600MW of wind energy by 2020…"