King’s Academy in Jordan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with  ACWA Power, a leading  developer, investor, co-owner and operator of a portfolio of power generation and desalinated water production plants, to design, develop and construct a solar photovoltaic facility (PV) on the school’s campus.

The full cost of the 2.6 MWp plant has been donated by Acwa Power to King’s Academy, amounting to $4 million. The plant will offset the equivalent of 2,300 metric tons of CO2 and power the equivalent of 350 households.

The MoU was signed by King’s Academy chairman Bassem Al-Salem and Acwa Power chairman Mohammad Abunayyan, in the presence of Headmaster John Austin.

According to the agreement, the plant will be operational by the spring of 2018.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Al-Salem expressed his thanks and appreciation to Acwa Power for their generous support.

“The school’s operational costs will be significantly reduced by shifting to clean and sustainable energy upon completion of this project, which will positively impact the school budget in coming years,” he said.      

Al-Salem explained that around 42 per cent of King’s students receive some form of financial assistance. “As a non-profit, without this kind of support King’s Academy would not be able to continue providing a first-rate education to young people who do not have the financial means to pay for it.”

“Acwa Power is proud to contribute to the enhancement and sustainability of King’s Academy as we believe in the importance of the school’s message and vision,” said Abunayyan.

King’s Academy solar power plant is one of Acwa Power’s latest corporate sustainability and responsibility initiatives in Jordan. The company is the largest independent power producer in Jordan with capacity of 1,665MW.

Earlier this week ACWA Power signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Nepco in respect of the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of a new 61.3 MWp photovoltaic project in Risha, a province in Eastern Jordan.

Coinciding with celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of King’s Academy, the signing ceremony took place during the official visit by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to Jordan this week, in which the Saudi and Jordanian governments signed a number of agreements, memoranda of understanding and joint investment deals. - TradeArabia News Service