Jordan

Though it already hosts several of the world’s largest PV installations, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s solar industry is still young, with limited local infrastructure and expertise. Project developers are learning quickly that building PV in harsh desert environments requires a careful eye on quality. New testing laboratories are looking to meet demand.

According to a new survey, 91% of respondents support the expansion of renewable energy sources in Jordan. Strategic interests of geopolitical actors, in particular the US, are seen as hindering the country’s energy transition, however.

Researchers in the Middle East have conducted a series of simulations to assess the technical and economical feasibility of building-integrated photovoltaic-thermal systems. The proposed framework could apply to various building types and geographical locations.

The Jordanian government has launched a tender for 3 kW solar energy systems for homes of National Aid Fund beneficiaries. The deadline for applications is July 4.

The novel methodology is reportedly able to track global maximum power point and reduce power losses in partially shaded PV systems by up to 33%. It uses a backstepping controller (BSC) algorithm to adjust the pulse width modulation signal and a genetic algorithm to compute the BSC gains to achieve an optimal PV system outcome.

An online platform taking inquiries into a subsidy program for residential solar heaters and PV systems has gone live in Jordan. The program will cover more than 30% of installation costs and aims to benefit around 7,000 targeted households.

Thresholding methods have commonly been used to characterize the soiling accumulated on glass coupons. Researchers led by the Sapienza University of Rome have identified 16 automatic thresholding methods that may be used for analyzing soiling on PV panels.

At COP28, Masdar revealed a $16 billion investment deal with Iberdrola for green energy projects in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Masdar also signed a memorandum to assess the feasibility of a green hydrogen plant near the Port of Aqaba in Jordan.

Scientists in Palestine say that controlled tests show that bifacial solar panels produce 6.81% more electricity than monofacial PV modules.

With utility scale solar installations accelerating, Philip Wolfe, founder of PV data consultancy Wiki-Solar, drills into the data to highlight some interesting variations in relative progress around the world.