Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Petra Solar opens R&D office in Jordan

Petra Solar has opened a research and development office in Amman, Jordan.

The office is based in Amman, Jordan. Image: Wikipedia/RickHindi.

A spokesperson for the company told pv magazine the purpose of it is to support Petra Solar’s efforts in deploying its smart grid interactive solar system in the Middle East.

The company is currently in the midst of establishing field trials for its product in Jordan. The office will be there to help smooth out any environmental or regional challenges that crop up, such as different mounting methods or racking systems, while the Middle Eastern team members will be able to provide specialized technical knowledge.

The spokesperson declined to say how much had been invested in the office, or when the company expects to roll out its product on a large-scale.

However, they did add that Petra Solar is currently undertaking a number of other field trials in the U.S., Canada and Australia. They said there are always a number of environmental and regional challenges present when deploying a product. Therefore, the company spends time testing in the laboratory, before undertaking field trials. When the trials have been completed, the product is then ready for mass deployment. 

In a statement, the company said it is also actively partnering with key Middle Eastern companies on solar and Smart Grid initiatives, in addition to developing research agreements with regional institutions. It says the office in Jordan is the result of a meeting last spring between Petra Solar's founder, president and CEO Shihab Kuran, and His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan.

"The growing global demand for sustainable energy and jobs provides a tremendous opportunity for Petra Solar throughout the Middle East and the world. Jordan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the Middle East. Tapping into the region's research and development talent will facilitate the international expansion of our products and will take our utility based solutions to a higher level," commented Shihab Kuran.