Jordan has always heavily relied on energy imports, acquiring more than 90% of the energy it consumes. Thus, it is unsurprising that the government has been actively prioritizing energy security as a central objective, with renewable energy playing a crucial role. Due to successful policy, there has been a significant surge in the production and use of renewable energy in Jordan over the past decade. As a result of these advancements, the Jordanian government now has additional tools to address energy poverty within the country. 

A Greener Jordan

Jordan’s initial investment into domestic energy was the National Energy Strategy Plan for 2007 to 2020. This plan sought a $20 billion investment in energy development, with a significant portion allocated to renewable energy projects. This plan led to the construction of many solar and wind farms nationwide. Throughout the 2010s, Jordan’s energy sector steadily incorporated renewables. The proportion of electricity generated by renewables in Jordan grew from 0.7% in 2014 to 13% in 2019. 

The significance of renewable energy in Jordan has only continued to grow. In the government’s updated energy strategy for 2020 to 2030, the Jordanian government aims to increase the share of electricity generated from renewables to 31% by 2030. A target that Jordan is on track to exceed. As of 2022, renewables accounted for 27% of the total electrical energy produced, just 4% off their 2030 target. This trend has led to discussions within the Jordanian government to increase the target to a whopping 50% by 2030. 

Green Initiatives Tackling Energy Poverty 

The success of Jordan’s renewable energy sector has had tangible implications for the country’s quest to tackle energy poverty. Energy poverty has been a continual problem for the country, with studies in 2020 suggesting that 16% of the population qualifies as fuel-poor. This issue has been particularly prevalent in refugee camps in Jordan. In a 2019 United Nations report, the camps were identified as often lacking sufficient, reliable and affordable energy for electricity and heating.

While challenges concerning energy poverty remain, the Jordanian government has been utilizing its growing renewable energy sector to take on this issue. Various initiatives actively introduced assistance to help low-income households cope with energy poverty. For example, the government provided solar heater systems to 30,000 homes across the Kingdom for water heating. 

The Jordanian government also utilized renewable energy to address the energy poverty faced by the students. In 2015, the government launched the Schools Heating Program to provide heating powered by solar energy. In 2021, 134 public schools implemented this program and plans to expand its coverage to include 3,700 public schools.

Looking Forward

While there is still work to do, Jordan is actively using renewable energy to address energy poverty. The substantial growth in the country’s renewable energy sector in recent years gives reason to be optimistic. 

First, the growth signifies the development of the country’s energy security. In the medium to long term, this will increasingly protect the population from the price fluctuations of the international energy market. Furthermore, it creates further opportunities for introducing more initiatives that directly influence energy poverty, such as the ones mentioned previously. 

–Joss Thomas

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