If there’s one thing Jordan has plenty of, it’s sun. Its location on the world’s high solar radiation belt means the potential for solar energy production in Jordan is immense. Despite the fact that the country enjoys solar radiation of about 5-7kWh/m2/per day for about 300 days of the year, photovoltaic technology has been underutilized in Jordan. However, a global partnership between EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME), German sustainable development organization GIZ, the Jordanian government and a host of German private sector renewable energy companies aims to redress this. Through harnessing the power of the sun, a more sustainable use of local water resources will be realized.
GIZ, FoEME and German solar energy companies Kinetics and Azurspace, as part of GIZ’s “Development Partnerships with the Private
Sector” (DPP) initiative, launched the innovative “Capacity Development for Solar Water Treatment in Jordan” pilot project at a workshop in Amman on Monday. This project has seen, among a suite of other water treatment and recovery ventures, the installation of a Kinetics solar-powered water purification system at Sharhabil Bin Hassneh EcoPark. The Kinetics purification system uses solar energy to pump water from nearby springs and purify it via a water filtration membrane. This membrane removes 96 per cent of bacteria in the water, bringing it up to Jordanian potable water standards. Prior to the implementation of the project, the EcoPark was purchasing in water to meet its needs. With the new purification system, which has been adapted to suit local conditions (an important aspect of GIZ’s work), the EcoPark has managed to achieve self-sufficiency in water.
This partnership is a key opportunity for the country to uncover new ways of maximizing domestic resources, while expanding the development of renewable energy projects. As a result of these proactive relationships Jordan will be better prepared for energy requirements in the future.
Visit Sharhabil Bin Hassneh EcoPark to see the water purification system in action, and to learn more about water conservation in Jordan. For more information on GIZ’s Development Partnerships with the Private Sector initiative, visit http://www.giz.de/en/html/worldwide.html.
This blog post has been written by FoEME intern Lauren Salathiel. Lauren is currently studying for a MA in international and community development, and is working with FoEME on water-related issues, in the Amman office.