Amman — Solar energy has helped improve electricity access in rural and remote areas of Jordan in recent years, particularly in locations far from the national power grid, experts said. The growing importance of decentralized renewable energy solutions is becoming increasingly evident in areas that are difficult or costly to connect to conventional electricity networks.
Experts, however, stressed that the cost of solar systems and approval procedures remain challenges to expanding their use. They called for reducing bureaucracy and simplifying procedures that hinder the wider adoption of solar energy in Jordan.
Solar energy currently accounts for around 27% of Jordan’s total energy mix. Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency show that Jordan’s installed solar capacity increased from 184 megawatts to 1,204 megawatts between 2016 and 2025. Solar electricity generation also rose from 391 gigawatt-hours to 3,164 gigawatt-hours during the same period, reflecting continued expansion of photovoltaic projects across the Kingdom.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Salameh, a faculty member at the University of Jordan, said solar energy has significantly improved electricity access in rural and remote areas, particularly those located far from the national grid.
He explained that some remote areas, especially in the Badia and border regions, are located considerable distances from the national grid, making grid extensions costly because of their distance from existing lines and the limited number of beneficiaries or connections.
Solar systems equipped with batteries have provided an important solution, with several remote areas of the Badia now relying on them for electricity, alongside some border and desert locations.
Al-Salameh said solar energy has greatly improved electricity supply in these areas. In some rural locations, it has also helped reduce electricity bills associated with the national grid, highlighting its role as a complementary component of the existing power system.
He noted that solar energy has also been used to operate telecommunications towers in remote and sparsely populated areas that previously relied on diesel generators because grid electricity was unavailable.
Solar systems have provided a solution for operating these towers in remote areas while reducing pollution, effectively replacing diesel generators with solar power systems.
Energy transition and sustainability specialist Diana Othmanah said solar energy plays an important role in improving energy access in Jordan’s rural and remote areas. She noted that Jordan has achieved near-universal access to electricity, with World Bank data showing that 100% of the population had access to electricity in 2023.
“The role of solar energy today is not limited to providing electricity for the first time,” Othmanah said. “It also extends to serving remote sites, supporting farms and productive activities, reducing some of the burden on households and making use of a clean, local energy source that strengthens energy security.”
Globally, she noted, significant challenges in access to energy remain. According to the 2025 Tracking SDG7 report, around 92% of the world’s population has basic access to electricity, while more than 666 million people remain without electricity.
As a result, decentralized renewable energy solutions, particularly solar power, have become an important option for rural and remote areas where conventional grid connections are difficult or expensive.
Othmanah cited World Bank estimates showing that off-grid solar systems served more than 560 million people worldwide in 2023 and could represent the most cost-effective solution for providing electricity to around 398 million people, or 41% of those expected to remain without electricity by 2030.
In Jordan, renewable energy has also become an important component of the electricity system, accounting for around 26.3% of total electricity generation by the end of 2025, according to Othmanah.
“For rural areas, Energy Ministry figures show that rural electrification projects in 2025 covered 1,981 homes and 318 sites, with approved costs of around JD 12.7 million, using a combination of conventional grid connections and renewable energy sources,” Othmanah said.
She said this demonstrates that the solution does not necessarily involve choosing between the electricity grid and solar power, but rather selecting the option best suited to each location and the needs of its beneficiaries.
It is therefore not possible to say that solar energy is always cheaper or more expensive than grid electricity, Othmanah explained. If a home or farm is located close to the grid, connecting to it may be more efficient. In remote locations requiring long power lines, poles and transformers to serve a limited number of beneficiaries, solar energy may be more cost-effective over the long term.
At the household level, solar energy can appear expensive initially, particularly when an off-grid system requires batteries. Othmanah said it is therefore important to distinguish between economic viability and a household’s ability to afford the upfront cost.
This highlights the importance of programs such as the Rural Electrification Fund and initiatives run by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund in expanding access to suitable solutions and supporting certain beneficiary groups.
Economic expert Dr. Qasem Al-Hamouri said “many obstacles” continue to hinder the expansion of solar energy in Jordan, both for households and projects, with bureaucracy and approval procedures among the main challenges.
One major obstacle, he said, is the requirement for electricity distribution companies to approve the installation of solar systems for homes and private projects. This is based on the fact that the grid is owned by the companies and has a limited capacity, requiring their approval before systems can be installed.
“This has created a conflict and become a major obstacle to the expansion of solar energy,” Al-Hamouri said, stressing that “without removing these barriers, solar energy cannot expand.”
He also pointed to the large number of companies established in Jordan to supply solar systems to homes, buildings and projects. He said high profit margins and system prices have increased financing costs for customers seeking to fund solar installations, reducing their economic viability and becoming another obstacle to wider adoption.
Al-Hamouri stressed the importance of expanding solar energy use in rural and Badia areas. He proposed exempting these areas from approval procedures, allowing homes in rural and Badia communities located a certain distance from city centers to install solar systems without having to obtain prior approvals.
Source: Al Ghad
