Jordan Gets 52.5-MW Solar PV Plant

A 52.5-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant commissioned this October in Jordan will generate about 1% of the Middle Eastern nation’s power (Figure 5).

5. Solar carpet. The 52.5-MW Shams Ma’an Solar Power Plant in Jordan was commissioned this October. Courtesy: Business Wire

The plant uses more than 600,000 Series 4 thin-film modules manufactured by Arizona-headquartered First Solar. The company said that the modules would help the plant deliver up to 5% more energy than conventional crystalline silicon panels. The modules are also mounted on single-axis trackers, which will allow the facility to generate up to 20% more energy, First Solar said.

The plant is owned by a consortium of investors consisting of Diamond Generating Europe, Nebras Power Q.S.C., and the Kawar Group. A notable aspect of the plant is that it was built by a predominantly Jordanian workforce. “Shams Ma’an has facilitated the transfer of several gigawatts of First Solar’s knowledge and experience to Jordan. Our hope is that the skills acquired through this project will further enable Jordan’s solar energy ambitions,” said Dr. Raed Bkayrat, First Solar’s vice president of Business Development for the Middle East.

—Sonal Patel, associate editor (@POWERmagazine, @sonalcpatel)