Ce contenu est disponible uniquement en anglais

The effects of global warming and the improvement of living standards in the Mediterranean countries has led to a rising demand for cooling and air-conditioning in buildings and subsequently an increased electricity consumption as well as peak electricity loads, especially during the summer season, which puts the energy systems of these countries to the test.

In response to this rising problem with environmental and economic consequences, MAIA-TAQA project has launched a pilot action in Jordan with the ambition to use sun’s solar radiation, in order to provide cooling at the office building of the Aqaba Chamber of Commerce in Aqaba. This demonstration project will provide an excellent opportunity for testing this innovative technology under real life conditions and provide a test bed for collaboration between local universities and MAIA-TAQA international partners.

Solar driven cooling and air-conditioning can provide indoor thermal comfort without adding any considerable electricity load to the building. But why using solar thermal energy for cooling or air-conditioning buildings in the Mediterranean?

• Solar energy is available at the same time when cooling is needed.
• There is great energy saving potential, since the use of solar thermal energy saves electricity and thus, conventional primary energy sources.
• It also leads to a reduction of peak electricity demand, providing further benefits to the electricity network.
• Solar cooling technologies use materials and fluids with zero ozone depletion potential and zero or very small global warming potential.
• Already installed solar thermal systems for domestic hot water and space heating can be fully exploited to provide cooling during the summer.

In short, the use of solar thermal energy to provide cooling and air conditioning contributes to the progress of European policy targets, to the reduction of greenhouse emissions as well as to the stability of electricity grid and the reduction of the peak power demand.

The Aqaba project has been procured, awarded and contracted and its implementation is expected to start next month.