AGRICULTURE-

Jordanian farmers get more solar power: Jordan signed an agreement with the Agricultural Credit Corporation and the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) to support the second phase of a program that installs solar panels for farmers, according to a statement. The JOD 1.1 mn (USD 1.6 mn) program will be provided by the Agricultural Credit Corporation and the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) will cover the loans' interests. It will also see agricultural production and power costs cut for small farmers in a push to improve exports and achieve sustainable farming.

The second time around: The JOD 2 mn first phase of the program saw the installation of solar panels for 172 farms across the kingdom, the statement notes. JREEEF paid the interest on the first phase’s loans at a rate of 3.5%.

WASTE-TO-ENERGY-

Iraq is courting bidders for its first WtE project: Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) is inviting potential investments in the country's first waste-to-energy (WtE) project in the Rusafa region, according to a statement. NIC consultant Mona Al-Jabri presented modules of renewable energy projects, types and standards of WtE projects, and technical and engineering details for the project. Baghdad produces around 9.5k tons of waste daily which will need to be processed through "sustainable environmental projects," the statement notes. Companies have a month to submit their bids for the project, Zawya reports, citing a local Iraqi news outlet.

A regional WtE push: Oman has been capitalizing on its WtE potential by studying the feasibility of producing biogas from wastewater sludge as a promising waste-to-energy, and the UAE has a mega 900k ton capacity greenfield WtE IPP facility under development in Abu Dhabi. Egypt also recently inked a USD 120 mn agreement with a consortium led by Renergy Egypt to design, build, own, and operate its new waste-to-energy factory in Abu Rawash city.

CARBON CAPTURE-

UAE wants Indonesian participation on renewables: The CEO of the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority Saeed Al Tayer met with Indonesia’s Ambassador to the UAE Husin Bagis and Indonesian climate tech firm Fairatmos to explore potential development and cooperation avenues for decarbonization, Wam reports.

REMEMBER- The UAE’s Masdar signed an agreement with Indonesia’s utility company PLN Nusantara Power to develop a 500 MW floating solar photovoltaic plant (FPV) in Indonesia last month. Earlier in February, Masdar acquired shares in the geothermal unit of Indonesian government-owned geothermal utility Pertamina, which controls 82% of Indonesia's installed geothermal energy capacity and manages 13 geothermal energy projects generating 1.87 GW of electricity.