AMMAN— Experts have affirmed that the significance of renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia projects extends beyond merely reducing carbon emissions to enhancing energy security and supporting the water, transportation, industrial, and digital economy sectors.
اضافة اعلان
According to the experts, these projects play a pivotal role in attracting investments and creating job opportunities, thereby bolstering Jordan's capacity to fulfill its climate commitments up to 2030 and beyond.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is tied to several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with local and international companies aimed at developing green hydrogen and ammonia projects across various locations in the Kingdom. These agreements are currently active and underway in preparation for reaching the commercial agreement stages. Meanwhile, the updated energy sector strategy includes plans to commence green hydrogen production by 2030.
Regarding renewable energy, it currently contributes approximately 27 percent to Jordan's electricity generation mix, while the updated strategy aims to increase this share to 40 percent by 2035.
Dr. Dureid Mahasneh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the EDAMA Association for Energy, Water, and Environment, stated: "Expanding modern and clean energy projects—whether in renewables or the increasingly popular green hydrogen and green ammonia projects—represents a step in the right direction toward enhancing climate action and mitigating the environmental impacts of carbon emissions."
Mahasneh added: "These projects serve as one of the primary tools to curb environmental pollution and confront the repercussions of climate change; however, the pace of their expansion remains below expectations."
He pointed out that conventional energy still commands the largest share of the Kingdom’s energy mix, despite Jordan possessing substantial potential in the field of renewable energy.
He noted that Jordan was among the first countries in the region to invest in renewable energy projects. Nevertheless, the contribution of these projects remains modest compared to the available potential, attributing this partly to the continued reliance on revenues generated from taxes and fees imposed on conventional energy sources.
Mahasneh stressed the necessity of expanding incentives for renewable energy and easing its accessibility for individuals, institutions, and the industrial sector. He emphasized that the benefits of this transition are not limited to lowering carbon emissions and improving air and water quality, but also extend to boosting citizens' purchasing power and reducing the conventional energy import bill, which poses a heavy financial burden on the national economy.
Furthermore, Omar Abu Eid, Energy and Environment Program Manager at the European Union Delegation to Jordan, stated: "Current and future energy projects form a fundamental pillar in supporting climate action and helping Jordan meet its climate commitments by curbing carbon emissions and promoting a green transition across various sectors."
He noted: "The updated energy sector strategy through 2035 focuses on expanding the utilization of local energy sources, optimizing energy resources—led by renewable energy—and rationalizing energy consumption to help reduce emissions and achieve sustainable development goals."
He added: "The Kingdom has begun reaping the fruits of several new projects this year, including green hydrogen, green ammonia, and energy storage projects, alongside expanding electricity generation from renewable sources."
He indicated that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is moving toward floating new tenders for solar, wind, and battery energy storage projects. Additionally, in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment, it is preparing to launch an energy storage project using water bodies at the Wadi Al- الموجب (Wadi Mujib) Dam.
He explained that these projects—whether executed by the private sector or through public-private partnerships (PPPs)—help accelerate the green transition of the energy sector, lower carbon emissions, and support Jordan's efforts to reach its climate targets by 2030 and beyond.
Abu Eid clarified that the energy sector has become a major driver for promising economic sectors, most notably the green hydrogen sector. This sector relies fundamentally on sourcing electricity from renewable resources across all production stages—from water electrolysis to hydrogen production and transport—making renewable energy the cornerstone for the success of these projects.
He added: "The agreements signed in this field, including the recent agreement featuring a partner from Poland, confirmed the reliance on electricity produced from renewable energy sources to power green hydrogen projects."
He noted that the legislative and regulatory framework of the energy sector has witnessed significant development over recent years—particularly during the past two years and the current year. This development has enhanced opportunities for using renewable energy, reduced carbon emissions, and enabled the framework to serve new projects linked to green hydrogen, storage, ammonia production, and other future ventures.
He emphasized that there is an integration between the legislative, regulatory, and executive aspects, alongside the development plans implemented by the Ministry of Energy, all of which align toward a green transition, carbon emission reductions, and achieving Jordan's climate targets.
He pointed out that the impact of the green transition in the energy sector has transcended electricity generation to encompass other vital sectors, most notably the water sector.
He explained that the National Water Carrier Project (the seawater desalination and transport project) will rely heavily on electricity generated from renewable energy sources to power desalination and water transport operations, thereby boosting its contribution to emission reductions and climate commitments.
He added: "The transport sector is also experiencing a rapid transition toward more sustainable modes of transportation through the expanding use of electric and hybrid vehicles. This is coupled with efforts by relevant authorities to improve public transport services and introduce eco-friendly electric transit options, contributing to lower carbon emissions and supporting the goals of the National Energy Strategy."
Abu Eid noted that over the past decade, the industrial sector has embraced cleaner production concepts and optimal resource utilization. This has not only reduced carbon emissions but also improved the efficiency of operational processes and lowered operational costs for industries. Consequently, this enhances the competitiveness of Jordanian products and their marketing opportunities locally and abroad, supporting the national economy by attracting investments and creating jobs.
He added: "This approach has similarly reflected on the agriculture and water sectors, among others, which have become more integrated into the green transition path," stressing that the primary launchpad for this transition was the energy sector before its positive impacts rippled through various economic sectors.
He emphasized that promising sectors, such as green hydrogen and ammonia production—in addition to industry, agriculture, transport, water, and desalination—all require increased use of clean energy and improved energy efficiency to support emission reductions and meet the Kingdom's climate obligations.
He pointed out that digital transformation adds another dimension to these efforts, noting that data centers and digital infrastructure require vast amounts of energy, which are best supplied by renewable and sustainable electricity sources.
He added: "Green energy and renewable energy storage projects represent an essential element in supporting the digital economy and the automation sector."
He explained that Jordan is reinforcing its position as a regional hub for digital connectivity, citing the "Aqaba Digital" project that connects Europe, Asia, and Africa. He stressed that expanding digital connectivity services and technological infrastructure demands additional, sustainable electricity sources based on renewable energy and storage, thereby lowering carbon emissions compared to conventional energy sources.
He asserted that these efforts constitute an integrated system led by the energy sector toward a green transition, with the expanding use of clean energy across various sectors. This enhances Jordan's contribution to climate action and brings it closer to achieving its climate goals by 2030 and beyond.
He added: "These transitions align with national policies, foremost among which are the Economic Modernization Vision and economic transformation programs. They are bound to attract more investments, create new job opportunities, boost youth participation, and support the achievement of national climate goals across different sectors."
For his part, Omar Al-Shoushan, Chairman of the Union of Environmental Associations in Jordan, said: "Green hydrogen, green ammonia, and the expansion of renewable energy represent a strategic opportunity for Jordan on climate, economic, and political levels. However, they are not an end in themselves, but rather a means to achieve a true transformation in the energy sector and the national economy."
Al-Shoushan explained that these projects can directly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality, especially if they are linked to replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources in the electricity, industry, and transport sectors. They also support the implementation of Jordan's international commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which target emission reductions and enhance the capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
He added: "Jordan possesses significant competitive advantages, namely the abundance of solar and wind energy sources, qualifying it to be a regional hub for producing clean energy and its derivatives. These projects can attract billions of dollars in investments, provide specialized, high-quality jobs, and open new export markets, particularly given the rising global demand for green hydrogen and low-carbon ammonia."
He stressed that these projects also enhance national energy security and reduce the Kingdom's exposure to fluctuations in global fuel markets and geopolitical crises. Furthermore, they elevate Jordan's standing as a reliable partner in international efforts to combat climate change and transition toward a green economy.
Al-Shoushan indicated that realizing these gains requires developing electricity grids and storage, ensuring the sustainable management of water resources, updating legislative and regulatory frameworks, and linking these projects to local development and national value chains so that their benefits reflect on the economy and local communities, rather than just on investment or export indicators.
He assessed that current energy projects in Jordan are generally moving in a direction aligned with national climate goals. However, he noted that the upcoming phase requires shifting focus from merely producing renewable energy to building an integrated, low-carbon economy that links clean energy with industry, transport, and natural resource management, turning climate ambitions into tangible results on the ground.
