The importance of Jordan’s Red Sea-Dead Sea project for the integration of high share of intermittent renewable energy sources

This paper presents the influence of the Red Sea-Dead Sea project and the desalination plant on the future energy systems of Jordan. The Red Sea-Dead Sea project and its alternative route have been used to increase penetration of intermittent Renewable Energy Sources, prevent the decline of the Dead Sea and to provide fresh water for the increasing population of Jordan. The reference model of Jordan’s energy system for the year 2009 has been reconstructed by using EnergyPLAN tool. The results of the reference model have been compared with current data in order to determine the accuracy of the model. Based on the reference model and future needs for energy and water in Jordan, four future scenarios, covering period until 2050 and different type of technology, have been developed and analyzed in EnergyPLAN tool. The results of the analysis show that the Red Sea- Dead Sea desalination system can both provide the necessary salt water to prevent the Dead Sea’s decline and fresh water for the population of Jordan. Furthermore, the flexible nature of the proposed desalination system can help achieve a higher penetration of renewables in Jordan’s energy system.