The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) has extended the bid deadline for its 50MW photovoltaic (PV) solar project from 1 October to 17 November 2016.

Sixteen developers have prequalified to bid for the project.

The prequalifiers are understood to include:

• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
• SolaireDirect (France)
• Hanergy Global Solar Power Group (Europe) (China)
• Saudi Oger (Saudi Arabia)
• Hareon Swiss Holding
• Neoen (France)
• Elecnor (Spain)
• Skypower Services (Canada)
• Kawar Investments (local)
• Evolution Solar (US)
• Philadelphia Solar (local)

WAJ invited many of the prequalified developers for National Electric Power Company’s (Nepco’s) four 50MW PV solar independent power projects (IPPs) to bid on its project. The 24 bidders for the Nepco second round projects, ranked by lowest levelised cost of energy (LCOE), were:

• SunRise PV Systems (Greece)
• Saudi Oger
• Fotowatio Renewable Ventures/Abdul Latif Jamil Energy (ALJ Energy – Saudi Arabia)
• Hareon Swiss Holding (China)
• Evolution Solar/AMP
• Philadelphia Solar
• SolaireDirect
• Neoen
• Linuo Group (China)
• Activ Solar (Austria)
• Mainstream Renewable Power (Ireland)
• Kawar Investments
• Alten Renewable Energy Developments (Spain)
• AlSanad for Renewable Energy (JoSolar) (UAE)
• Skypower Services
• SunEdison Italia Construction (USA)
• Elecnor
• Acwa Power
• Seci Energia (Italy)
• ELF Energy International (UAE)
• Scatec Solar (Norway)
• Hanergy Global Solar Power Group (Europe)
• Spectrum International for Investment (local)
• Suncore Photovoltaic Technology (China)

The design-build-transfer-operate (DBFO) contract will be undertaken under Jordan’s wheeling and net metering framework. The successful bidder will sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with WAJ.

The new regulations allow corporations to connect power plants to the national grid, even if they are in a different location, and wheel electricity across the grid for a fee. Several private-to-private projects are also using the framework.

Nepco signed the four second-round PPAs in late 2015 and early 2016. After several acquisitions, Acwa is going ahead with one project and ALJ Energy two. The Saudi Oger project is thought to have stalled due to the company’s financial difficulties in Saudi Arabia.

The three remaining projects will be financed by development banks, European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD), the Washington-based International Finance Corporation (IFC) and France’s Proparco.