Hopes remain for extensive solar deployment in the oil-rich nations of the Middle East, with Jordan leading the way in the region with a steadily growing PV market. MESIA is acting as a vital intermediary for the solar industry in the region, and says that some important announcements will be made at an event it is holding next week.

The event is the Jordan/Palestine Solar Energy Trade Mission, taking place in Amman, Jordan, on 14-15 November. MESIA has said that over 600 MW of projects will be announced during the event, which is also in partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and Palestine’s Ministry of Energy.

In addition to the project announcements, MESIA has said that details about the upcoming solar tender in Jordan will also be disclosed, while local companies will be presenting their plans for solar development in the country.

Jordan has set a modest, but achievable solar target for itself of 600 MW of installed solar PV by 2020. With modest expectations, we are seeing steady development in the country’s solar industry. Earlier in the year, Abu Dhabi-based developer Masdar signed a PPA for a 200 MW solar plant in the country, while various other utility-scale developments have been completed or are currently in development.

Solar deployment in Palestine is, understandably, less clear, with a lack of development land and rows of political hurdles, which has seen it often dependent on donor programs for any sort of solar development.

However, there seems to be some life being breathed into the market, with the granting of a license for a 5.7 MW solar plant in July, which would be the first utility-scale solar project in the country. In addition to this, the Palestinian Energy Authority announced that it will auction permits for the creation of 10 solar farms up to a maximum of 10 MW each.