First Solar completes new 52.5MW plant in Jordan

US-based photovoltaic (PV) solar systems provider First Solar has completed the construction of a new 52.5MW plant, Shams Ma'an, in Jordan.

Owned by a consortium of Diamond Generating Europe, Nebras Power Q.S.C. and Kawar Group, the solar power plant will account for around 1% of Jordan's total power generation capacity.

The new plant has a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the country’s power generation and distribution authority, National Electric Power Company (NEPCO).

Kawar Energy chairman Karim Kawar said: "First Solar has delivered a high-performance solar energy asset on schedule and with an excellent safety record.

“There is no doubt that this power plant will deliver on its promises, reliably generating energy over its lifetime and forming the cornerstone of Jordan's energy security strategy.”

With the help of over 600,000 high-performance First Solar series four thin film modules, the plant will generate 5% more electricity than the amount of energy produced by conventional photovoltaic technologies.

In order to build the plant, First Solar spent more than 40,000 man hours on training.

The completion of the plant has increased First Solar's installed capacity in the Middle East to over 70MW.

First Solar will provide additional 200MW of energy to the region when the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be completed by next year.

In August, the company won an order for 160MW of PV modules from Basariarge Enerji and Zorlu Enerji.

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Image: Shams Ma'an solar power plant in Jordan. Photo: courtesy of First Solar, Inc.