Germany’s Mena Cleantech is pushing ahead with plans to develop the first concentrating solar power plant in Jordan.

The company says it will officially submit a proposal for the Joan 1 project to the government before the end of the first quarter. Under the country’s renewable energy law, which is due to come into effect in the near future, the government will then have six months to respond to the company’s proposal.

Mena Cleantech aims to reach financial close on the scheme by the end of the year.

The company is currently working with the government to finalise the site for the power plant, which will be located at Maan, in the south of the country.

In addition to concentrating solar power technology, the plant will also include a fossil fuel boiler to guarantee continuous power generation.

At a capacity of 100MW, the Joan 1 will be the largest solar thermal power plant in the world to use direct solar steam generation.