Jordan’s National Electric Power Company (Nepco) has confirmed it is in negotiations with four companies in the second round of its solar feed-in tariff projects.

The scheme will see the four companies each carry out a 50MW photovoltaic (PV) solar project.

The companies and their feed-in tariff offers are:

• Sunrise PV Systems (Greece) – 4.34 JDcents (JDc; 6.13 cents) a kilowatt hour (kWh)
• Saudi Oger (Saudi Arabia) – 4.598 JDc a kWh
• Fotowatio Solar Renewable Ventures (Spain) / Abdul Latif Jameel Energy (Saudi Arabia) – 4.895 JDc a kWh
• Hareon Swiss Holding (China) – 5.43 JDc a kWh

Saudi Oger will carry out its work near Safawi, while the other three sites are in the Mafraq development area, all in the northern governorate of Mafraq.

Nepco issued a revised draft of the power purchase agreement (PPA) on 31 August, giving developers a few days to respond.

The developers also need to carry out studies on the grid, and negotiate transmission connection agreements (TCAs) with Nepco. They are currently responsible for low- and medium-voltage transmission lines to connect the projects, while Nepco will invest in high-voltage transmissions.

The schemes are expected to be financed by development banks such as the Washington-based International Finance Corporation (IFC), with some involvement from domestic banks.

The IFC took a leading role in financing the first round of 12 smaller PV solar projects. The projects reached financial close in May 2015.

Jordan’s three-round renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme was a first for the region when it was launched in 2011. Under the direct proposal programme, applicants, which can be single companies or joint ventures, submit proposals for the wind and solar projects under a guaranteed feed-in tariff, to be implemented on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

A total of 33 companies prequalified for the second round of the feed-in tariff scheme, and 24 bids passed technical evaluation. These firms were invited to submit financial bids, which were seen as highly competitive.

The third round was cancelled as reaching financial close on the first round took nine months longer than expected.