Middle East Deal Swaps Solar Energy for Water

Now here’s a heartwarming story of peaceful cooperation between ancient enemies (that just happens to fall in our space) – Israel and Jordan have signed a solar power/water deal that will see each party provide the other with a critical resource.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Israel have a long and nasty history that’s beyond the scope of this magazine (and I wouldn’t dare cover) except to say this agreement has been called the most “significant” deal since the two signed a peace treaty in 1994.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) brokered the deal at Expo 2020 Dubai, with the assistance of several others, including U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, and the agreement calls for the construction of a 600 megawatt capacity solar farm in Jordan and a water desalination plant in Israel.

Jordan is the second-driest country in the world, with water resources of 80 cubic meters per person (the International norm is 500 cubic meters), and the UAE-funded plant in Israel would provide Jordan with 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually.

In return, Israel would receive the bulk of the energy from the Jordanian solar farm.

“The Middle East is on the frontline of the climate crisis, and only by working together can countries in the region rise to the challenge,” Tweeted Kerry following the announcement. “Today's agreement is a welcomed example of how cooperation can accelerate the energy transition and build greater resilience.”