Jordan Unveils Middle East's Largest Solar Plant, Driving Global Solar Power Expansion
Jordan has made a significant stride in renewable energy, unveiling the Middle East's largest solar plant and announcing a 300MW renewables tender, with 200MW allocated for solar PV. This move is part of a global trend towards solar power expansion, with notable progress seen in almost every continent in 2016.
Brazil is leading the way in Latin America's solar power development, currently experiencing the largest solar expansion in the region. Meanwhile, established markets like Chile and India continued to make great strides in 2016. Argentina, a latecomer to global solar expansion, launched two large-scale tenders under a new pro-business president, indicating a shift in its renewable energy landscape.
Taiwan has ambitious plans, aiming to deploy 1.52GW of solar within two years and a staggering 20GW by 2025. In Africa, Nigeria signed its first ever solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) for nearly 1GW of solar PV projects, while Mexico held its second long-term renewable power auction, winning 2.4GW of solar and expecting large capacities in the future. Zambia set a new benchmark for low-cost solar power in Sub-Saharan Africa with a competitive auction.
While Europe's matured PV markets struggled in 2016, the global trend towards solar power expansion is undeniable. Jordan's recent announcement, along with the progress in other countries, signals a promising future for renewable energy, with more countries embracing solar power as a viable and cost-effective option.
