Energy Security and Solar Power Usage in Jordan

Jordan relies on foreign sources for 97% of its energy needs. However, the regional instability of Egypt, Syria, and Iraq has forced the country to adopt new measures, with the goal of reducing energy imports by 37% in the... [ view full abstract ]

Jordan relies on foreign sources for 97% of its energy needs. However, the regional instability of Egypt, Syria, and Iraq has forced the country to adopt new measures, with the goal of reducing energy imports by 37% in the coming years. This energy insecurity is exacerbated by the influx of Syrian refugees, which alone have increased the Jordanian population by 10%. In order to increase its security, the Jordanian government has committed to investing more than $1.4 billion in clean and renewable energy. I spent my fall semester abroad in Amman, Jordan researching the Jordanian movement towards clean and renewable energy. In my research, I focused specifically on why Jordanian’s chose to work or invest in solar power. In this presentation, I will discuss why everyone should care about Jordanian energy security, as well as present the results of my research on solar power usage in Jordan.