Masdar sign deals with Jordan for 1GW wind, battery storage; explores green H2

On the sidelines of COP28, UAE's energy firm Masdar signed a joint development agreement with the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to develop a 1 GW wind project with a battery energy storage system (BESS), along with a separate MoU to explore the feasibility of establishing a green hydrogen plant. 

The wind-cum-storage project is proposed in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, while the feasibility of establishing a green hydrogen project near the Port of Aqaba to produce cost-competitive hydrogen using desalinated seawater and renewable power will be explored, according to the company. 

"With substantial wind and solar resources that can be used to generate large amounts of renewable energy, and produce cost-competitive green hydrogen and green fuels, Jordan has the potential to become a global powerhouse in the green energy transition", said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar. 

"Building on the strength of our longstanding partnership, Masdar is delighted to bring our expertise in clean energy projects and technologies to help Jordan achieve its decarbonization plans and unlock the nation's enormous potential", he added. 

Masdar already has a presence in Jordan through its Baynouna Solar Energy Company (BSCE) joint venture with Finnish investment and asset management group Taaleri, which inaugurated the 200MW Baynouna Solar Park, the largest clean energy project in Jordan, in February early year.

Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jordan, commented on the development, "The Jordanian government's efforts continue to enhance Jordan's role as a regional center for green energy production and provide high-quality, cost-competitive green hydrogen fuel by taking advantage of the abundance of renewable energy sources and our nation's strategic geographical location in the region to provide excellent access to European markets".

The minister added that these agreements will advance Jordon's energy transition priorities and its recently launched 'Economic Modernization Vision (2023-2033)". "This includes investment in green hydrogen production projects, which are part of Jordan's initiatives to transition towards the use of clean energy as it aims to achieve net zero", he noted.

Masdar is pursuing a target of 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen production by 2030 as part of the UAE's plans to establish itself as a green hydrogen hub and capture 25 per cent of the global low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030.