Geothermal Energy in Jordan
Overview
- Jordan has promising potential for the development of geothermal energy, particularly through its naturally occurring thermal springs and geothermal water resources associated with the country’s geological and tectonic setting.
- Located along the Dead Sea Transform Fault system, Jordan contains several areas where underground heat interacts with groundwater, creating thermal and mineral-rich water resources. These resources present opportunities for both direct geothermal applications and, subject to detailed exploration and confirmation of suitable temperatures and flow rates, potential geothermal power generation.
- For Jordan, geothermal development can form part of a broader strategy to increase the use of domestic renewable resources, reduce dependence on imported energy, support water-efficient development, and create new opportunities in tourism, agriculture, industry, and sustainable infrastructure.
Geothermal Resources
- Jordan’s geothermal resources are principally associated with thermal springs, deep groundwater systems, fault zones, and areas of elevated geothermal gradients.
- Important geothermal and thermal-water areas include:
- ● Zara and Zarqa Ma’in near the Dead Sea
- ● Hammamat Ma’in (Ma’in Hot Springs)
- ● Afra Hot Springs
- ● Himma thermal springs in northern Jordan
- ● Areas along the Jordan Rift Valley and Dead Sea Transform
- ● Deep aquifer systems with elevated groundwater temperatures
- Water temperatures vary considerably between locations and depths. Some of Jordan’s best-known thermal springs reach temperatures suitable for direct-use geothermal applications.
- Further geological, geophysical, geochemical, and deep-drilling exploration would be required to accurately determine the commercial potential of individual geothermal reservoirs.
Potential Applications
- Geothermal Power Generation
- Where sufficient reservoir temperature, permeability, flow rate, and sustainability can be demonstrated, geothermal resources may potentially support electricity generation.
- For moderate-temperature geothermal resources, binary-cycle technologies, including Organic Rankine Cycle systems, can allow electricity to be generated without requiring the extremely high reservoir temperatures associated with conventional steam geothermal plants.
- Exploration and test drilling would be required before defining commercially viable generation capacity.
- District Heating and Cooling
- Geothermal water can potentially provide thermal energy for:
- ● Hotels and resorts
- ● Residential developments
- ● Hospitals
- ● Public buildings
- ● Tourism complexes
- ● Industrial facilities
- Combined with modern heat-pump technology, geothermal systems can also contribute to efficient heating and cooling.
- Greenhouse Agriculture
- One of the most attractive direct-use applications is geothermal greenhouse heating.
- Geothermal heat could support controlled-environment agriculture and year-round cultivation of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and other high-value crops while reducing dependence on conventional heating fuels.
- Aquaculture
- Warm geothermal water may be suitable, subject to water-quality requirements, for maintaining controlled temperatures in fish farming and aquaculture facilities.
- This creates the possibility of integrating geothermal resources with agricultural and food-production projects.
- Tourism, Wellness and Healthcare
- Jordan already demonstrates the tourism value of geothermal resources through destinations such as Ma’in Hot Springs.
- Further development could support:
● Thermal resorts
● Wellness centres
● Mineral-water spas
● Rehabilitation facilities
● Eco-tourism destinations
● Integrated hotels and tourism developments
- This provides an opportunity to combine renewable-energy development with Jordan’s established tourism industry.
- Industrial Applications
- Geothermal heat may also have applications in industrial processes requiring low- or medium-temperature heat, including:
● Food processing
● Drying of agricultural products
● Industrial washing
● Pre-heating processes
● Water treatment
● Certain mineral-processing operations
Integrated Geothermal Development
- An important opportunity for Jordan is the development of integrated geothermal projects rather than using geothermal resources for a single purpose.
- A geothermal development could potentially combine:
- Geothermal Resource → Electricity → Heating & Cooling → Greenhouses → Aquaculture → Tourism & Wellness
- Such a cascading-use model can maximize the economic value obtained from each geothermal well and improve overall project economics.
For example, higher-temperature geothermal fluid could first be evaluated for electricity production, after which the remaining thermal energy could potentially be used for district heating, greenhouse agriculture, aquaculture, or tourism before the geothermal fluid is appropriately managed or reinjected.
Strategic Advantages for Jordan
Development of geothermal resources could provide Jordan with several long-term advantages:
Domestic Energy Resource
Geothermal energy is a locally available resource and can contribute to reducing dependence on imported conventional fuels.
Continuous Renewable Energy
Unlike solar and wind generation, geothermal energy can potentially operate continuously, providing stable thermal energy and, where technically viable, baseload electricity.
Small Land Footprint
Geothermal facilities generally require relatively limited surface area compared with many other large-scale energy developments.
Agricultural Development
Direct geothermal heat can support greenhouse agriculture, food production, and rural economic activity.
Tourism Development
Jordan’s thermal-water resources can support premium wellness, medical tourism, and destination-resort developments.
Environmental Benefits
Properly designed geothermal systems can provide low-carbon energy and contribute to Jordan’s broader renewable-energy and emissions-reduction objectives.
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