Mafraq:A 2-megawatt solar energy project has been inaugurated at the feed factory operated by Khairat Al-Shamal - Dajaj Al-Khair in Mafraq by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh.
According to Jordan News Agency, the project comprises a 1-megawatt photovoltaic power plant for electricity generation and a 1-megawatt PV-to-Heat system that produces industrial steam, with the capacity to generate up to 1.35 tonnes of steam per hour.
Kharabsheh highlighted the project's role in integrating the industrial, agricultural, and production sectors. He noted that it could enhance energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and increase reliance on local and renewable energy sources.
The government is supporting projects that bolster energy security and diversify energy sources, with an emphasis on expanding renewable energy. This is a central element of the National Energy Sector Strategy, which aims to increase the share of renewable sources in Jordan's electricity generation to about 40 percent by 2035.
Over the past 12 years, the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix has grown from less than 1 percent to about 27 percent currently. Kharabsheh stated that Jordan will continue to invest in advancements in renewable energy and storage technologies to enhance the competitiveness of economic sectors and reduce energy costs.
He also mentioned that energy security poses a significant challenge for Jordan, and that increasing the use of domestic energy sources, including renewables and local natural gas, is crucial for reducing dependence on imported energy and strengthening the economy against global energy market fluctuations.