Wind project developers in the first round of Jordan’s direct proposal renewables programme are hopeful that power purchase agreements (PPAs) will be signed by the end of 2015.

The Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources (MEMR) is still evaluating proposals and is in frequent contact with developers to negotiate.

Four wind developers prequalified for the first round of the scheme, to develop 50-100MW projects. They include:

• Korea Southern Power Company (Kospo) (South Korea)
• Alstom Renovables Espana (Spain)
• China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE)
• Lamsa Investments (local)

Another two firms, Spain’s Gamesa Energia and the local International Vision for Energy and Recycling, qualified conditionally, and still had to meet some requirements.

PPAs for 12 photovoltaic (PV) solar schemes in the programme were signed in mid-2014, but some projects have struggled to secure financing. The largest, Shams Maan, reached financial close on 18 January this year.

The deadline for the second round of 50MW PV solar proposals has been postponed until 10 February. About 50 companies will bid for four projects.

The delays on the second round and the cancellation of the third round were due to lack of grid capacity and institutional resources. The same issues have delayed PPAs for wind schemes.

“The [MEMR] has been kept very busy by the 12 solar projects in round one; some have reached financial close, others will very soon,” says Richard Keenan, a partner at US law firm Chadbourne & Parke. “[Apart from] Tafila, the wind projects have had much lower visibility.”

The 117MW Tafila project, comprising 38 turbines, is expected to come online in mid-2015. It will be the first utility-scale wind farm in the Middle East.

Follow Philippa Wilkinson on Twitter: @Philippa_MEED