19 March 2014

First Solar and Shams Ma’an secure 20-year PPA for Jordan’s largest PV project

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA and Shams Ma’an Power Generation have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a planned 52.5MWAC solar power plant in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The PPA was signed with the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), the country’s regulatory authority for power generation and distribution, and is valid for 20 years.

Shams Ma’an Power Generation PSC – which counts First Solar GmbH of Mainz, Germany as a shareholder – was established to pursue solar energy opportunities in the country. In addition to supplying solar modules, First Solar will also provide engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) and operations & maintenance (O&M) services for the project.

“The Shams Ma’an solar power plant represents the future of Jordan’s energy independence,” says Shams Ma’an’s CEO Hanna Zaghloul. “By bringing together industry-leading capabilities, international financing and advanced thin-film technology that is ideally suited to local conditions, we will establish a regional benchmark for the independent production of power,” he adds. “Adding PV capacity to the country’s energy generation portfolio offers Jordan and its people a winning value proposition.”

The power plant (the largest facility of its kind in Jordan, representing 1% of the country’s overall generation capacity) will supply 160 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, sufficient to power more than 35,000 average homes in the country. The project, which is part of the Ma’an Development Area (MDA) initiative in southern Jordan, will generate an estimated 500 jobs during construction. The plant will also help the country reduce its carbon footprint by displacing about 90,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, equivalent to removing about 20,000 cars from its roads.

“This agreement marks a significant step towards fulfilling Jordan’s energy security goals,” believes Ahmed S. Nada, VP of business development for First Solar in the Middle East. “Shams Ma’an will help power sustainable growth and development with clean, affordable and reliable solar electricity.”

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: www.firstsolar.com