The Tafila wind farm is the first in Jordan. It has helped to achieve the country’s renewable energy targets and pave the way for and build expertise in the future deployment of more renewable power plants and related grid infrastructure in the country. Approved by the EIB in 2013, the wind farm went into operation in 2016 with initial results in line with expectations:

• 117 MW generating capacity installed.
• 350 GWh produced annually.
• Supplying electricity for the equivalent of 78 600 households in the country.
• Reduction in CO2 emissions from the project relative to the likely alternative of generation from fossil fuels estimated at 0.175 kt CO2-eq/year.

This project is important for a number of reasons. It is helping to reduce Jordan’s very heavy dependence on energy imports, saving around EUR 200m a year. At the same time, it is reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. When the project was initiated, renewable energy sources accounted for a mere 0.1% of electricity generation. By providing about 3% of generation needs in Jordan, the project has made a major contribution to meeting the country’s target of 10% electricity generation from renewables by 2020.

The EIB was involved in this project in a technical capacity from the start and contributed significantly to its preparation, notably with regard to technical analysis of the project design, setting standards for the environmental and social impact assessment, ensuring high procurement standards and supporting negotiations with the contractor for the project. The project has led to greater awareness of the need to assess the risks to birds and has helped to build expertise on the type of assessments that need to be carried out when constructing wind farms in this region.