Belectric, or more precisely its subsidiary Belectric Gulf Ltd., has built and commissioned the South Amman Solar Power Plant with a total installed capacity of 46.33 megawatts as EPC (Engineering-Procurement-Construction) provider on behalf of the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. In addition to the turnkey PV solution Belectric is delivering a battery storage system with a capacity of 2.6 megawatt hours for the South Amman solar project.
The battery storage facility is expected to be commissioned this summer. Belectric will also provide operation and maintenance services (O&M) to the facility. A corresponding agreement has already been signed. The long-term service contract includes remote power plant monitoring, regular inspections and on-site support in the event of a fault.
More than 395,000 PV panels
“If you are able to plan, construct and commission a solar plant in such an uneven mountainous landscape with an extremely steep downward gradient, you are able to realise solar projects almost everywhere”, explains Frank Amend, CCO of Belectric Solar & Battery GmbH. “This extraordinary project underpins our position as a leading general contractor and O&M service provider for ground mounted PV. In addition, we are pleased that the Jordanian Government has extended the scope of the project, allowing us to demonstrate our competencies as battery storage systems integrator.“
The PV plant consists of more than 395,000 PV panels arranged in rows hundreds of metres long covering an area roughly the size of 140 football pitches. The solar plant is connected to Jordan’s national grid to support the energy needs of the local community and helps the country to provide clean energy to a number of refugee camps in Jordan. During the construction phase, the South Amman Solar Power Plant provided employment to workers from the local Jordanian community.
High standards for health, safety and quality
“We’re more than proud to support the Jordanian government with its initiatives for the refugees by providing green and much-needed power to different camps”, adds Martin Mock, Managing Director of Belectric Gulf Ltd. “We have completed the majority of the construction work within a period of three months. This was really fast considering the difficult topography of the construction site and the harsh weather conditions our local workforce had to deal with. Nevertheless, we have met our high standards regarding health, safety as well as quality.”
Belectric Gulf Ltd. has already realised seven solar projects in Jordan with a total capacity of around 100 megawatts. Among them is the largest solar plant ever built in a refugee camp. The PV plant with an installed capacity of 12.9 megawatt went live in 2017, providing clean and much-needed additional power to 80,000 Syrian refugees living in Jordan’s Za’atari camp. (mfo)
