Solar Water Pumping in Jordan Valley and the Highlands Project
The project involved the replacement of inefficient electrical and diesel irrigation pumps, and operating the 214 water pumps in the Jordan Valley and the southern valleys and 106 pumps in the highlands (Azraq, Mafraq and Madaba) with Photovoltaic PV solar energy. All pumps at Jordan Valley, Southern Aghuar, take water from irrigation ponds at the farms. The irrigation pumps are in turn fed by water from the King Abdallah Canal, through a pumping station and a gravity inlet owned and operated by the Jordanian Valley Authority (JVA) whereas the pumps at Highlands (Madba, Azraq, Mafraq) take water from irrigation ponds at the farms. The irrigation pumps are in turn fed by water from the water well at the farms.. The project assessed and investigated the needs and challenges facing an ecosystem with all the elements including it such as the population, agricultural or industrial activities, climate change impact, energy and water management and availability, thus, engaging all the aspects of energy water and food security to give rise to one comprehensive action and solution.
The project was carried out in partnership between NERC, Jordanian Ministry of Environment, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (REEE II) and funded by the EU.