UAE-based leading renewable energy company Masdar has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to explore collaboration in renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 2 gigawatts (GW).

As per the MoU, the two sides will explore the development and investment in renewable energy projects in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The memorandum also includes the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the areas of renewable energy and infrastructure development, including electricity transformation, distribution, and exportation.

Through the MoU, Masdar may significantly increase its renewable energy footprint in Jordan, which currently includes two major renewable energy plants.

His Excellency Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, the Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, said that, “Jordan is already a pioneer in renewable energy development in the region, where it currently produces around 29 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, and aims to increase this share to 50 percent by 2030.”

Dr. Al-Kharabsheh further noted that “the country is also looking to become a regional hub for green energy production benefiting from the abundance of renewable energy energies, in addition to its central location in the Middle East and Africa. In Jordan, we believe in collaborative work; whether on the regional or national level, and the partnership with our brothers in the UAE and Masdar under this agreement will help our country to reach our sustainability ambitions.”

“Masdar has been a proud partner of Jordan for nearly 10 years, helping to deliver pioneering renewable energy projects that contribute to the country’s sustainable development. With this latest MoU, we hope to increase the impact and depth of our collaboration with Jordan in the area of renewable energy,” commented Mr. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

In 2015, Masdar delivered the Tafila Wind Farm in Jordan, the first commercial utility-scale wind power project in the Middle East. The 117-megawatt (MW) wind farm increased the country’s total power capacity by 3 percent, as per the reports.