China’s Jinko Solar has submitted the lowest 50MW photovoltaic (PV) solar tariff price for the third round of Jordan’s renewable energy programme.

The Chinese firm submitted a tariff price of JDfils 17.65 ($cents 2.48) a kilowatt hour (kWh) for its 50MW proposal under the third round of the renewables programme. The local Alrai Energy submitted the second lowest bid of JDfils 17.78/kWh.

The full list of bidders and 50MW proposals are:

• Jinko Solar (China), JDfils17.65/kWh
• Alrai Energy (local), JDfils17.79/kWh
• Canadian Solar, JDfils24.4/kWh
• FRV Solar Holdings (Spain / Saudi Arabia), JDfils24.42/kWh
• First Solar (US), JDfils25.4/kWh
• Phelan Energy Group (South Africa), JDfils27.997/kWh
• Masdar (UAE), JDfils29.193/kWh
• Voltalia (France), JDfils29.26/kWh
• Neoen (US) / Catalyst Mena Clean Energy (local), JDfils29.9592/kWh
• Hanwha Energy (South Korea)/ Kepco (South Korea) / Arabia Trading & Consulting (local), JDfils31.0554/kWh
• TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis (China), JDfils32.95/kWh
• Solarpack Corporacion Technologica (Spain) / Xenel International (Saudi Arabia), JDfils33.76/kWh
• Adenium Capital (UAE) / ET Solutions (Germany) / Ahmad Yousef al-Tarawneh & Partner (local), JDfils33.9/kWh
• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia) / Chint Solar (China), JDfils34.307/kWh

Out of the remaining 14 bidders, 13 submitted 100MW proposals in addition to the 50MW base proposals. Financial analysis for the 100MW proposals will be conducted in the next few days, according to a source close to the programme. The Adenium consortium was the only group to have solely submitted a 50MW base proposal.

Under the third round, Jordan’s Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources (MEMR) has set a target to develop 200MW of PV solar at a designated site in the Maan area, with 100MW of wind power projects to be developed in the southern part of Jordan at a site to be chosen by the developer. Proposals for the wind projects are due on 1 November.

Successful applicants in the third round will enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MEMR, which will enable them to proceed with measurement campaigns, feasibility studies and technical integration plans for connection into the national grid, as well as other relevant preparatory work.

The invited participants will then submit a direct proposal within the required timeframe to MEMR, after which the client will select the best projects to proceed with. Submitted proposals will be ranked according to price, and the bids with the lowest tariffs will be selected as preferred bidders.

Selected developer consortiums will form project companies to operate as independent power producers (IPP) under a power-purchase agreement (PPA) with the Jordanian government offtaker Nepco, for a period of 20-25 years.