Green hydrogen is regarded as one of the most critical future solutions for achieving energy security and reducing carbon emissions, especially in light of climate change and the global transition toward clean energy.
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According to experts, Jordan possesses a genuine opportunity to benefit from green hydrogen despite its limited conventional resources, particularly with the rapid expansion of solar and wind energy projects in recent years.
A Strategic Move Toward Sustainable Energy
Engineer Amani Al-Azzam, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, stated that Jordan has witnessed growing interest in the green hydrogen sector over recent years. It is viewed as the fuel of the future and a key global solution for shifting toward clean energy and curbing carbon emissions, driven by an accelerating international trend toward sustainable energy sources and enhanced security of supply.
Al-Azzam emphasized that Jordan stands out due to several factors that bolster its competitiveness in this field. Most notable among these are the abundance of renewable energy sources—specifically solar and wind energy—alongside a strategic geographical location close to European markets. Additionally, the logistical infrastructure in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone serves as a vital hub for export projects and green industries.
She pointed out that the past few years have seen the development of a legislative and regulatory environment tailored to green hydrogen projects in Jordan. A modern electricity law was enacted to accommodate the needs of this new sector, allowing the construction of independent transmission lines separate from the national grid. It also introduced the concept of energy storage into the legislative framework for the first time, which is a fundamental requirement for renewable-energy-dependent green hydrogen projects.
Furthermore, a dedicated gas law was introduced for the first time, providing a clear definition of green hydrogen and regulating its various activities within the legal system—including production, transportation, storage, and utilization. This has offered a transparent regulatory framework for investors and enhanced the Kingdom’s readiness to attract mega projects in this sector.
In tandem, Jordan has offered investment incentives and exemptions for projects related to green hydrogen and renewable energy, both within and outside the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, to encourage investments and facilitate future project development.
Milestone Project: Jordan Green Ammonia Company
Al-Azzam explained that the Jordan Green Ammonia Company project represents the first investment agreement signed in Jordan’s green hydrogen sector. The project aims to produce approximately 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually using renewable energy.
According to the project’s feasibility study, it relies on developing an integrated system that includes around 550 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and battery storage systems with a capacity of up to 500 MW. It also entails constructing independent transmission lines linking renewable energy sources with production and consumption facilities, ensuring the project operates entirely on clean energy.
Al-Azzam added that green hydrogen and ammonia projects present a major opportunity for Jordan to cement its position as a regional hub for clean energy, support economic growth, attract qualitative investments, create new jobs, and contribute to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
World-Class Renewable Potential
Energy expert and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Jordan, Dr. Ahmad Al-Salaymeh, confirmed that Jordan enjoys exceptionally high rates of solar radiation on a global scale, ranging between 5 to 7 kWh/m² daily, with more than 300 sunny days per year. These conditions are sufficient to generate electricity with extremely high efficiency, to the extent that certain areas in southern Jordan are comparable to the best sites worldwide for renewable energy production.
He noted that green hydrogen has become one of the world's most vital clean energy sources, with global demand projected to surge. This rising demand will open doors for countries rich in renewable resources to enter a new multi-billion-dollar global market. Jordan emerges here as a strongly nominated Arab nation to seize this opportunity, backed by its natural resources, geographical location, and national policies supporting the green transition.
Al-Salaymeh explained that hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. It is a colorless, odorless, and non-toxic gas produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, without any carbon emissions. This makes it the most sustainable option as it relies entirely on clean energy.
Industrial and Transport Applications
He highlighted that green hydrogen can be used as a clean alternative fuel to diesel and gasoline for operating trucks, buses, and ships by converting it into electricity within fuel cells. It also plays a critical role in heavy industries like iron and cement, which require high temperatures that are difficult to provide via conventional electrical energy.
Furthermore, green hydrogen is used to produce green ammonia for the fertilizer industry. This represents the true economic opportunity for Jordan, especially since global demand for green ammonia is projected to grow significantly over the next decade.
"In this context, Jordan has so far signed more than 14 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with international companies and alliances to develop green hydrogen projects," Al-Salaymeh said.
He indicated that among the most prominent of these projects are agreements with Chinese and international firms aiming to produce 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually, which will help eliminate over 200,000 tons of carbon emissions per year compared to conventional production based on natural gas.
Additionally, massive projects aim to produce green hydrogen with an annual production capacity reaching 200,000 tons. Estimates suggest that some proposed projects may require renewable power generation capacities exceeding 10 gigawatts (GW) in the future, signaling a major expansion in the renewable energy sector and its associated infrastructure.
Integration into Global Value Chains
On her part, Eng. Amira Al-Amayreh, Technical Director of "Solarabic"—a platform specializing in renewable energy—stated that recent years have seen green hydrogen become one of the most prominent topics in global energy discussions. Projects worth hundreds of billions have been announced, numerous countries have set ambitious national strategies, and expectations have soared for this sector to become a primary driver in global decarbonization.
Al-Amayreh explained that Jordan holds a promising prospect in this nascent sector, leveraging its renewable resources, geographical location—particularly the Port of Aqaba—and the increasing global shift toward clean fuels and low-emission industries. She emphasized that the gradual evolution of the global market could grant Jordan a vital opportunity to learn from the experiences of previous countries and projects, thereby building more mature and production-ready ventures.
She added that the importance of green hydrogen is not limited to being a new source of clean energy; it extends to unlocking new economic and industrial opportunities, particularly through the production of green ammonia, which is a promising path for sectors like fertilizers, chemical industries, and certain low-emission maritime shipping applications.
Al-Amayreh pointed out that the projects announced in Jordan are currently being presented primarily as production and export ventures for green hydrogen or green ammonia. This grants them a significant role in building a new industrial and export sector, attracting investments, and reinforcing Jordan’s position within global clean energy value chains.
In this regard, she clarified that the impact of these projects could evolve in the future to include broader local applications tied to energy security, industrial uses, and transportation. However, this depends on the development of the local market, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks over the coming years.
Al-Amayreh concluded that a real and promising opportunity lies ahead for Jordan, the success of which depends on the Kingdom’s ability to transform its natural and geographical advantages into practical, feasible, and sustainable projects that enhance its regional standing and open new horizons for growth and investment.
- Jordan News Agency (Petra) – Rasmi Al-Khaza'leh
