ENERGY – CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
E-Case Society
ENERGY RESOURCES IN JORDAN
OTHER THAN PETROLEUM
By
Bassam Sunna’
Amman
November 2004
1. INTRODUCTION
Jordan is one of the developing countries whose fuel and electricity industries
are mostly reliant upon imported crude oil. So far, the most important
indigenous source of energy is oil shale whose use as a substitute for
1
petroleum – to any extent whatsoever – is of crucial importance for Jordan’s
development.
There are a number of ongoing and accomplished activities in renewable
energy in Jordan; most of them are part of an aggressive national renewable
energy utilization program in cooperation with foreign and local institutions.
The Government of Jordan is examining policies and programs to increase
the role of private sector in the financing, construction, and operation of all
types of energy resources. In this regard the Government has taken essential
measure to encourage the foreign investment to meet some of future energy
requirements.
2. AIM OF THE PAPER
The aim of this paper is to give a general account on the occurrences of the
oil shale, tar sand deposits, heavy oil discovered so far in Jordan. and
renewable energy resources (geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy
and biomass. It will clarify and define the following: The geographical distribution of these deposits and resources; their
quality and quantity
 Evaluation of the their potential and ranking of the future development
areas.
3. OIL SHALE IN JORDAN
Oil shales are defined as:
Sedimentary rock whose solid organic content is virtually insoluble under the
influence of organic solvents but which form liquid oil-like hydrocarbons when
exposed to temperature of up to 500 -600oC(destructive distillation). The
Jordanian oil shales are bituminous and, to varying degree , brown , grey or
dark gray calcareous marls with a typical bluish light – grey colour when
weathered.
There are two types of Oil Shale horizon;
 Near - surface deposits that are exploitable by open cast method
(Attarat Umm Ghudran, Maghar, El Lajjun and Jurf Ed Darawish)
 Deep subsurface deposits that are exploitable by underground miming
or in-situ retorting techniques (Jafr and Azraq Basins, Thamad, Khan
Ez Zabib, Yarmouk areas)
Oil shale had been known to occur since World War in the Yarmouk region
but no intensive investigations had been conducted. NRA conducted detailed
geological studies and several exploration campaigns for oil shale in El Lajjun,
Sultani, Jurf Ed Darawish, Attarat Um Ghudran and Maghar
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3.1 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
3.1.1. El Lajjun, Sultani and Jurf Ed Darawish Deposits
The El Lajjun area was explored by four campaigns of exploration. It covers
50 sq.km and bounded by the following coordinates:
63.000 - 73.000 N
230.000 - 235.000 E
There are three outcrops of oil shale in the area:
 Wadi Arbid outcrop.
 Wadi El Lajjun outcrop
 Wadi Ramla outcrop
The surface area of El Lajjun which has been subjected to the exploration
programs is approximately 25 km2, 21 km2 of it have been investigated by
drilling 138 boreholes.
Sultani Deposits is situated at about 115 km south of Amman along the desert
Highway between Qatrana and El Hasa. A total of 53 boreholes were drilled in
1982/1983 to evaluate the oil shale deposits. The oil shale deposit is confined
to a NW-SE trending graben structure some 8 km long and 4km wide
Jurf Ed Darawish deposit is situated at about 155 km south of Amman
between El Hasa and Al Hussayniyeh. Thirty one borehole were drilled during
the period 1980-1982
The more thoroughly investigated oil shale deposits of El Lajjun, Sultani and
Jurf Ed Darawish are located in a region with good transport links on or near
the Desert Highway (Amman – Aqaba) and the Hijaz railway line. The area
lies between 700 and 1050m above sea- level with mean annual rainfalls of
approx. 100mm. The sizes of El Lajjun and Sultani are each about 20km 2
while Jurf Ed Darawish is about 200 km2.
The oil shale is practically not exposed and so the geological investigations
were based mainly upon shallow boreholes. The following drilling rates were
achieved during the various survey periods: El Lajjun: Phase I, 1980m; Phase
two, 1475m (776m were cored); Sultani: 2435m (275m were cored); and Jurf
Ed Darawish: 2229 m (1334m).
In El Lajjun and Jurf ed Darawish the bituminous sequence is subdivided
according to its oil content into an Upper Series and Lower Series, the former
having rocks with little oil content and the latter with high oil content, whereas
a division of that kind has not yet been established in Sultani. Table 1 shows
the characteristic data of the oil shale deposits in the three areas
Table 1- Characteristic data of the three oil shale deposits.
El Lajjun
Sultani
Thickness of oil From- to
Mean
3
From – to Mea
Jurf ed
Darawish
From- to Mean
shale (m)
Entire sequence
Upper series
Lower series
Thickness
of
overburden (m)
Oil content (%
wf)
Entire sequence
Upper series
Lower series
Oil density
G/ml (15oC)
API (o)
1-111
0-62
1-49
15-62
29.6
20.7
25.5
25.8
2-6.5
n
31.6
44-90
69.3
2.2-15.8
2.2-6.2
3.5-15.8
10.5
5.0
11.5
3.2-17.2
9.7
0.967
0.964
15
19->128
0->128
19-54
29-62
68.3
53.0
39.1
47.3
1.1-14.9
1.1-7.1
3.1-14.9
5.7
4.1
8.1
0.978
15
13
The average chemical composition of the oil shale is given in table 2 (% by
wt.)
Table 2 Mean chemical composition and properties of the oil shales of El
Lajjun, Sultan and Jurf ed Darawish
El Lajjun
Sultani
Jurf
ed
Darawish
SiO2
16.13
26.26
9.30
Al2O3
3.77
2.87
3.76
Fe2O3
1.51
1.12
1.55
MgO
0.85
0.95
0.28
CaO
30.45
26.30
38.73
P2O3
3.31
3.48
1.53
SO3
4.83
3.38
4.37
Loss of ignition
38.10
33.00
39.50
Moisture
2.5% only a few 5.47
5.50
(% by wt.)
places showed
an exceptional 5
or 6%
Calorific
value 6750 KJ/Kg
5680
4860
(kj/kg)
The following trace elements mentioned below found in the oil shale are
retained in the ashes, but the percentages are too low to be of economic
interest.
(V,Zn,Ni,Co,Mo,Cu,Be,B,Y,Yb,Cr,Np,Se,Ga,Ag,Pb,Ti,Mn,Zr,Sr)
Table 3 - average percentage of some of the trace elements in ppm.
El Lajjun
Sultani
Jurf
ed
Darawish
4
As
Cu
Mo
Ni
Sr
U
Zn
Ba
Cr
V
17
115
94
139
707
25
649
46
267
268
92
73
167
1015
29
451
113
431
162
10
68
20
102
1187
17
190
35
226
101
RESERVES.
The following criteria were applied for calculating the reserves of oil shale and
shale oil:
- Minimum thickness of the oil shale: 10m
- Mean density of the oil shale: 1.8tm/3.
- Minimum oil content: 4% by weight.
The reserves which can be economically exploited by open – cast mining are
characterized by:
- Mean oil content: more than 5% by weight, and
- Overburden: oil shale ratio of less than 2.5:1
When calculating the oil content of the deposits it was assumed that 100% of
the oil yield obtained with the Fischer & Schrader analysis is also obtainable
by industrial methods as shale oil.
El Lajjun
Proved geological reserves:
Oil shale (million t.)
1196.8
Oil (million t.)
115.5
(Million barrels)
751.3
Reserves exploitable by
open – cast mining:
Oil shale (million t.)
1165.9
Oil (million t.)
114.2
(Million barrels)
742.8
Sultani
Jurf
ed
Darawish
942.1
91.4
597.4
8056.3
457.0
2939.1
942.1
91.4
596.4
2489.3
194.3
1243.2
3.1.2. Wadi Maghar and Wadi Attarat Umm Ghudran
Wadi Maghar and Wadi Attarat Umm Ghudran areas were subjected to a first
exploration campaign in 1982 The boreholes drilled in both areas during this
campaign are 18 boreholes in Wadi Maghar.12 boreholes in Attarat Umm
Ghudran, 3 of them with no data and 2 core boreholes.
Wadi Attarat Umm Ghudran was subjected to the second campaign in 1986.
5
Forty three (43) boreholes were drilled in the year 1986/1987. Six of them did
not penetrate the oil shale sequence. A total of 3738 meters were drilled of
which 1116 meters were cored.
More than 5000 samples were collected within the field and drilling activities,
these samples were subjected to different laboratory analysis, complete
chemical, mineralogy and fisher Assays.
The Wadi Maghar and Wadi Attarat Umm Ghudran areas are located about
25 - 30 km east of the Amman - Aqaba desert highway, and comprise the
southwestern end of the Azraq Basin.
Attarat Umm Ghudran Area is bounded by the following coordinates:
73.5-101.5 N 269- 293 E Palestine Grid (670 sq.km )
The area subjected to the drilling program is bounded by the following
coordinates
73.5 - 88.5 N
270 - 293 E Palestine Grid (about 345 sq.km)
The area subjected to the drilling program in Wadi Maghar sheet is bounded
by the following coordinates: 45 – 73.5 N
270 - 293 E (Palestine Grid)
(about 425.5 sq.km)
Table 4 General information about Attarat - Maghar oil shale deposits.
Activities
Wadi Maghar
Wadi Attarat
Area investigated (km2)
Number of boreholes
Total Drilled meters
Total cored meters
total cuttings meters
O.S Max. thickness (m)
O.S Min. thickness (m)
Overburden Max. Thickness
Overburden Min. Thickness
Spacing between boreholes km
Sampling Intervals (m)
650
20
1647
132.5
1514.5
68
7
50
32
5 - 10 km
1
250
43 +
3738
1116
2622
more than 63
23
100
28
1 - 1.5 km
1
Reserves: Oil Shale reserve is as follows
 Wadi Maghar sheet area 21.6 Billion Metric Tons (Haddadin, M., 1986)
 Attarat Umm Ghudran sheet area 10.4 Billion Metric Tons (Sunna 1985
and Haddadin, M., 1987).
3.1.3 Oil Shale in the Water Wells Drilled in Azraq Basin
Several hundreds of water wells of different depths were drilled in the Azraq
Basin during the last four decades. The purpose of this drilling was to locate
Aquifers for domestic water to supply Amman needs and for agricultural
purposes.
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Oil shale was recorded in most of these wells but because the main target of
this drilling program was to evaluate the ground water resources (B2/A7 and
other aquifers), the oil shale or what so called bituminous marl was ignored.
The minimum thickness (70m) is recorded in borehole NDW11 in the southern
part of the Basin, and the maximum thickness (655m) is recorded in borehole
NDW1 in the northeastern part of the Basin
4. TAR SAND
Tar sand, as used herein, is a term given to rocks in which the interstices are
partially to fully filled with a heavy viscous to semi – solid bitumen which
cannot be moved through the rock to a well bore by inherent reservoir energy:
i. e is too viscous to flow to production wells at a commercially acceptable
rate. Other names that are synonynous with tar sand are; oil sand, oil
impregnated rock, bituminous sandstone and rock asphalt.
Any distinction that can be made between tar sands and so- called heavy oil
deposits must relate solely to the difference in viscosity of the contained
bitumen or oil.
4.1 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
In Jordan, seven tar sand outcrops have been discovered. The outcrops are
located along the eastern margin of the Lisan Peninsula / Dead Sea area and
across east –west Wadis draining westward from the highlands and incised
into the steep escarpment then falls to the Dead Sea- Rift Valley depression.
They are located in a strip extending for seven kilometers between Wadi Ed
Dhira in the North and Wadi Isal in the south and concentrated at both ends
of the strip, i.e. near Wadi Ed Dhira and Wadi Isal. Consequently they can be
grouped as two main deposits: The Northern Deposit. (Ed Dhira)
The Southern Deposit (W. Isal)
The following co-ordinates bound the two deposits:
065 – 073 N. Palestine Grids
200 – 207 E.
The total area of the prospect (study area) is 56sq. km.
NRA has explored these two deposits during the period January 1 st 1987,
until November 1st, 1988.
The exploration comprised a wide spectrum of activities, which included
geological, geophysical, drilling operations (37 boreholes), and geochemical
analyses.
All occurrences of tar sand are similar in that the oil saturation shows lateral
and vertical variations. This makes both the prediction of the lateral and
vertical extent of the deposits and their correlation difficult. Only further deep
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drilling can help in such cases, heavy and light oil might be discovered at
deeper horizons.
The results of the exploration program carried out so far were very successful
in the following findings.
4.2 RESERVES
 Reserves of crude bitumen in the Isal tar sand deposit are given as
measured and expected. The total measured reserves are 40 million
metric tons, (assuming sp. gr of 2). The recoverable dissolved matter
from the tar sand is 3.6 million tones or Twenty five million barrels of
oil. The expected reserves can be calculated by assuming that the tar
sand sections extend vertically for various thickness. If for example a
thickness of 400m is assumed then the reserve is 143 million metric
ton. Sulphur can be obtained as a by- product. Pyrite was encountered
at several horizons.
 The overburden consists of sand (Suweileh Sand) and limestone; both
are suitable for construction purposes as aggregates. Dolomite was
discovered in the area between Wadi Isal and Aheimir Isal.
 Hot artesian water (50C) was discovered during drilling the deep well
near Al Mirrweha.
 Heavy oil was discovered in Isal deposit. Light oil was discovered in
Ain El Hamur area (BH, AH2) 22km north of Isal deposit, at the eastern
side of the eastern fault of the graben. 30 meters east of the present
shore line of the Dead Sea.
4.3 COMPOSITION OF TAR SAND
Tar sand is a mixture of oil, sand, silt, clay, carbonaceous fragments, water,
gas and some other minerals. The amount of these component in the tar sand
vary appreciably, and the quality of the components has been found to vary
significantly,
The average total dissolved matter which was determined by organic solvent (
Toluene or Chloroform ) ranges between 5.5% to 12.1% by weight.
4.4 OIL COMPOSITION
Analysis of an oil sample extracted from the Isal deposit (borehole TS3)
showed that it contains large quantities of moderately heavy and heavy liquid
hydrocarbons.
 0.2% of the extracted material is percent in the form of light gaseous
hydrocarbon. (C1- C7)
 36.9% is moderately heavy liquid hydrocarbons.
 62.9 is heavy liquid hydrocarbon
8
Analysis of the whole oil chromatogram reveals a maximum in the kersoene /
diesel range of hydrocarbon products.
Gaseous and gasoline range hydrocarbon C1 to C8 are negligible or almost
absent indicating that the oil is of a degraded nature.
C11 being the most abundant component 7.5%
C10 – C8 hydrocarbons make up to 56-7% of the total hydrocarbon.
C19 – C25 make up to 24.3% of the total hydrocarbons.
> C25
occurs in minor percentage.
Therefore the oil present in the sample has potential for kerosene and diesel
range hydrocarbons.
During the drilling of the Burj Dolomite – Shale formation in borehole TS11,
was found in the circulated water. Chromatographic analysis of this oil sample
revealed that all straight and branched chain normal alkanes present in this
oil sample have been degraded by bacteria present in the deposit.
Fractionation of the TS11 oil sample into its aliphatic, aromatic, asphaltene
and nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen compounds indicated that the bulk of oil is
made up of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons as follows:Aliphatic hydrocarbons 44.92%
Polycyclic aromatics
26.74%
Asphaltenes
19.78%
N.S.O.
8.58%
5. ASPHALT BEARING ROCKS IN AZRAQ BASIN
The exploration for hydrocarbons in the Azraq Basin indicated that there are
two main types of petroleum deposits present in the Rajil Monocline.
The first is a medium gravity oil (28-30 A.P.I), located in the Hamzeh
structure
The second is sulfur - rich asphalt or heavy bitumen that occurs in sediments
of the Ghareb and to a lesser extent in Amman Silicified Limestone
Formations. This asphalt was formed under conditions of low thermal stress
from relatively immature sediments. Indigenous generation from Ghareb and
Amman source rocks has been inferred.
The widespread distribution of bitumen – and asphalt- bearing rocks of
Maestrichtian age in the Azraq region has been clearly established though the
drilling of some 32oil exploration wells, 17 of which have been located in the
Hamza area. Although bitumen, asphalt and heavy oil are sporadically
present throughout the stratigraphic column, the richest occurrences of
heavy, residual hydrocarbons are found in the late Cretaceous age.
Reserves
Total estimated O.H.I.P for three zones is 2.045.5 million barrels:
9
Assuming that an efficient extraction process could recover 10% of the
O.H.I.P, then the total recoverable reserves are estimated to be approximately
205 million barrels form the three zones.
5. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN JORDAN
"Geo" means earth, and "thermal" means heat. So, geothermal means earthheat. It is the thermal energy contained in the rock and fluid (that fills the
fractures and pores within the rock) in the earth's crust. For every 100 meters
below ground, the temperature of the rock increases about 3 degrees Celsius.
Geothermal resources in Jordan are expressed mainly by thermal springs and
some thermal wells. These sources are classified as low enthalpy geothermal
systems, which could be used in direct uses such as agricultural and
aquacultural activities, industrial processing, therapeutic purposes and space
heating and air conditioning applications.
According to the thermal water properties (chemical composition,
temperature, discharge rate), several economic projects could be developed
in Jordan using the thermal energy of the thermal wells. Heating
greenhouses, fish farming, animal husbandry, some industrial processing and
therapeutic spas are the most ideal projects which might be established.
5.1 USES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal resources vary in temperature from 25-350 Co, and can either be
dry, mainly steam, a mixture of steam and water or just liquid water. In order
to extract geothermal heat from the earth, water is the transfer medium.
Naturally occurring groundwater is available for this task in most places but
more recently technologies are being developed to even extract the energy
from hot dry rock resources.
The temperature of the resource is a major determinant of the type of
technologies required to extract the heat and the uses to which it can be put.
High temperature geothermal deposits are generally used for the
generation of electrical energy
At intermediate temperatures thermal water have been need for the
following proposes:At 40 - 60 C for horticulture.
At 50 C
for balneology and recreation
At 70 C
for refrigeration
At 80 C
for heating of green houses, mineral processing and space
heating in new or existing residential, public or industrial
premises and production of domistic hot water.
At 90-110 C for the drying of organic material
Above120C for evaporation, distillation and the drying of inorganic materials
Low temperature geothermal aquifers with temperatures as low as 20-30 C
can be used for fish farming or de-icing. are heated this way.
5.2 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
10
Many thermal springs exist along the eastern margin of the Dead Sea rift.
Known manifestation occur from the Yarmouk River in the north to the Afra
springs in the Wadi Hasa in the south. The geothermal resources in Jordan
are described below from north to south as follow:
Thermal Springs
 Himmeh hot springs
In this area three large thermal springs are situated in small flat area at
Yarmouk river. Their temperatures range from 30 to 43°C. The total dissolved
solids (TDS) of these springs varies from 600 to 800 ppm. The water contains
9.5 ppm of H2S and 31.4 nci/l of radon gas.
 Abu Thableh Thermal Spring
It is located about 30 km south west of Himmeh springs. The temperature of
its water is 37°C with PH about 6-9.
 Deir Allea Thermal Spring
It is located east of Deir Allea village about 3.5 km at the mouth of Wadi
Zerqa . The water temperature is 35°C with CO2 gas.
 Hisban Thermal Spring
This spring is located in Wadi Hisban at about 200m below sea level. It has
water temperature of about 32°C with total dissolved solids about 3850 ppm.
It contains 15.8 nci radon with high iron oxides.
 Zara-Zarqa Ma’in Thermal Springs
This thermal field lies in the central part of Jordan, east of the Dead Sea.
More than 60 thermal springs in Zerqa Main area are discharging thermal
water with temperature up to 63°C. The total dissolved solids is about 2500
ppm. The Zarqa Ma’in thermal springs
The Zarqa Ma’in thermal springs form the best- known resource, some of
these springs have been tapped to the spa and hotel complex at Zarqa Ma ‘in.
In Zara area, there are more than 44 springs discharging thermal water with
temperature up to 53°C, their total dissolved solid is about 2000 ppm.
 Wadi Ibn Hammad Springs
In this wadi there are nine thermal springs. Their water temperature ranges
from 35 to 41°C and their total dissolved solids is up to 900 ppm.
 Weida'a Thermal Spring
It is located in Wadi Al-Thra'a west of Karak it is temperature is 32°C with high
iron oxide.

Afra and Burbeita hot springs
11
Afra and Burbeita hot springs are to most famous Hot Springs in southern
Jordan. They located in Wadi Al-Hasa about 15 km north of Tafila. Burbeita
spring has temperature of about 38°C with CO2 gas. While, Afra area has
three hot springs range in temperature from 45 to 47°C with high
concentrations of radon ( 19.4 nci/l and iron oxides.
Wells
 Mukheiba well field.
Mukheiba well field consists of 7 boreholes located about 1 km to the east of
Himmeh springs. There well discharge huge amount of thermal water with
temperature ranges from 30 to 38°C . The total dissolved solids vary from 600
to 800.
 North Shuna Area
North Shuna well is located at the mouth of Wadi Al-Arab. It is as artesian well
with high flowing (900m3/hr ). The temperature of the water is 57°C with H 2S
concentration of about 5.8 mg/l.
The north Shuna well discharge 300 m3/h of thermal water at 51°C. It is a
very large potential , part of which could be used to feed a pilot fish farm
breeding tilapia and possibly other species so as to diversify the production.
 Ghor El Haditha Area
TS-1D Well: This well is situated about 1 km east of Al-Haditha village. The
well drilled to around 700m. The well is artesian and flows without pumping at
an estimated rate of 400 m3/hr and temperature of about 42°C with high H 2S
smell. The total dissolve solids is 9100 ppm and to flow.
 Area of Azraq Basin
Geothermal resources in the basin are expressed entirely in the form of
thermal wells with out any presence of thermal springs.
Many wells have been drilled in the basin tapping the middle aquifer (B 2/A7)
which form the source of the thermal water. Most of these wells are
discharging thermal water range in temperature from 30 to 62 C o. Azraq Well
(Az-1) is the classic example of these wells. Azraq well is located about 2 km
south west of North Azraq. The water temperature is 38°C and the total
dissolved solids is about 1100 ppm. Another well of importance is Smeika -1
well which is located at 17 km north of Safawi town. The temperature is 57°C
and the total dissolved solids is about 600 ppm with high H2S smell.
Several wells have been drilled during the oil exploration project by Natural
Resources Authority. Twelve wells (NDW1-12) were drilled in 1992-1993 by
Water Authority in cooperation with CES (Consulting Engineers Salzftter
GmbH) to study the middle aquifer (B2/A7) through out the basin. All of these
wells are discharging thermal water.
 The area south of Queen Alia Air port
This area is situated on the plateau south of Amman, a region east of
Madaba. In this area there are many shallow private wells used for irrigation
discharging thermal water ranges in temperature from 30 to 43°C. These
wells have been drilled by the private sector for agricultural purposes.
12
5.3 ADVANTAGES OF USING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Clean, reliable, flexible, Low Cost source, require small land area and help in
developing the standard of living
6. SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is an obvious potential asset in sunny Jordan. Although limited
use, largely for domestic hot water, represents it’s only technologically
advanced exploration. Solar energy is used in a primitive but immensely
effective way in the evaporation ponds for potash and other salts extracted
from the Dead Sea.
Jordan has made considerable progress in assessing the renewable energy
potential through several ongoing activities. Most of the research and
development (R&D) work is concentrated at the Royal Scientific Society
(RSS) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources - department of
renewable energy.





Solar water heating for domestic and industrial applications.
Space heating.
Solar desalination.
Water pumping utilization.
Photovoltaic, and wind energy converters.
Solar Water Desalination
Pilot research plant was constructed at the solar energy experimental station
in Aqaba through West German bilateral program. It is a solar-assisted
desalination siesta, which employs heat pipe sectors and desalinates on an
average about 50 gallons/day of seawater.
The Solar House
A Project was carried out jointly by RSS and Kuwait institute of Scientific
Research (KISR), to conduct research on solar space. Heating and water
heating, and studying the various solar heating systems, solar collectors,
storage systems and auxiliary systems. This project also carried out the
economic feasibility of solar house and maintenance of integrated efficiency at
22%.
Solar Water Heating (SWH)
Jordan has a well-developed industry in Solar Water Heating (SWH). The use
of solar water heating systems for providing domestic hot water, and in a few
cases space heating need, has steadily increased in the past few year. At
present, a total of 100.000 (SWH) units, (approximately 26% of household
units), have been installed in Jordan. Currently, over 50 manufacturing are
producing hot water systems in the country. The industry has a capital outlay
of about US$5.0 million and employs over 500 technicians, and has an annual
13
production capacity of about one million square feet of collector area
(equivalent to about 28.000 household units).
Photovoltaic applications include the following two systems

Photo voltaic water pumping systems in isolated areas
Water pumping in areas isolated from the national grid is achieved by diesel
powered engines. Most of remote areas as the area of Azraq basin have
relatively high yearly average solar radiation, and that the need for water is
usually in summar at a time photovotaic (PV) system works at its maximum
efficiency. PV systems provide a cost - effective source for water pumping as
a substitute for Diesel. Table 9.1 gives some information about the pumping
systems, which are in operation in the Azraq basin which represents more
than 50% of those installed in Jordan.

Photo voltaic power units to operate radiotelephone systems in rural
and remote desert locations to minimum electricity requirements for various
purposes such as clinic refrigerators, electric lighting, television and
emergency telephones..
7. WIND ENERGY
Wind energy in Jordan is mainly utilized in electricity production and water
pumping through mechanical means or indirectly by generating electricity to
drive a cluster of electrical pumps. Regarding the manufacturing capabilities,
Jordan can manufacture the entire mechanical wind turbine without difficulties
specially the tower, blades, and some mechanical components. There are 11
shallow wind energy water-pumping stations in Jordan. Total potential for
wind turbine installation for electricity generation in Jordan is in the order of
50 MW. The annual energy output from this potential corresponds to about
3% of the total electrical energy consumed in Jordan in 1991 A Wind Atlas for
Jordan was produced jointly with the Danish RISO national laboratory, in
which the wind areas have been identified.
14
Selected References
Allen, D.J. 1988. Preliminary Evaluation of the Geothermal Potential of
Jordan and Recommendations for Further Studies. Report No. WD/88/26R.
BGS/NRA.
Allen, D.J. & Evans, R.B. 1989. Jordan Geothermal Project/Proposal for
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