By Laila Azzeh
AMMAN – In a step towards increasing its reliance on clean, sustainable energy, Jordan on Thursday inaugurated its first solar-powered charging station for electric cars.
Located at El Hassan Science City (EHSC), the station is considered the first step towards promoting solar-powered vehicles and building more solar-charging facilities on the streets of Jordan, according to experts.
The station was established in cooperation between local clean technology firm NetEnergy, Nissan Jordan, the environment ministry, USAID and the Higher Council for Science and Technology with the support of AllCell, Sun Phocus, DBT and MATRA.
HRH Princess Sumaya, president of EHSC and the Royal Scientific Society, called NetEnergy, which was incubated by El Hassan Business Park, “a true example of what can be achieved when creative ideas unite with the desire to innovate and lead”.
She added that EHSC was the “ideal” place to build the first station for clean energy as the city can turn ideas into working projects that create job opportunities.
Highlighting that Jordan currently imports 90 per cent of its energy needs, Princess Sumaya added that “this project is considered the nucleus to build a green Jordan and will work on enhancing the security of the Kingdom in the fields of energy by relying on renewable energy resources”.
The station consists of 24 solar panels and has the capacity to produce 26 kilowatts per day with the capability of including more chargers, according to NetEnergy Director General Mansoor Halaj.
“The station is considered a model for Jordanians to have a deeper idea of the solar charging station for electric vehicles…more of which will be installed on the Kingdom’s roads,” he told The Jordan Times yesterday.
A team from the companies which contributed to implementing the project will study the possibility of building more solar charging stations in cooperation with the Greater Amman Municipality.
Raouf Dabbas, adviser at the environment ministry, underlined the importance of the project as an example of a cutting-edge technology in the field of solar power.
“The environment ministry’s interest in this pilot project stems from two main objectives: to support and develop the green economy and mitigate the effects of climate change,” he added.
Ghassan Bustami, CEO of Nissan Jordan, which provided a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle with which to show the power station in action, highlighted the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors in joint projects to build and promote sustainable economic development and protection of the environment.
Following the ceremony, Princess Sumaya took a test drive in the Nissan Leaf after it was charged at the station.
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