Khaberni - In a morning interspersed with high clouds over the mountains of Jerash, the surface of King Talal Dam rippled like a vast mirror reflecting the autumn sunlight. However, what draws the eye is not the reflection of the sky but those blue panels floating on the water surface like a small island designed to capture the light and protect the water simultaneously.
Here, on this vital dam that stores water nourishing thousands of dunams of agricultural land, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Jordan Valley Authority are testing a technology that could change the future of energy and water in the kingdom: water-cooled floating solar panels.
Innovation Born of Necessity
Jordan is one of the world's poorest countries in terms of water resources, and the water sector consumes a significant part of the energy. Amid the pressing need for savings and rising temperatures year after year, institutions are searching for solutions that offer hope and alleviate burdens.
Amid these challenges, the project "Reducing Costs through Improved Efficiency of Floating Solar Energy Systems" started as a bold idea: if panels are placed over water, could they cool naturally and produce more energy? And could they provide shade to the water to protect it from evaporation?
The initial data says: Yes
From August 2025 until early November, the pilot system generated more than 730 kilowatt-hours of electricity, used to power facilities of the Jordan Valley Authority. Moreover, preliminary studies indicate an increase in generation efficiency ranging between 5% and 15% compared to ground-mounted panels.
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At the water level, the impact could be even bigger: thanks to the shade provided by the panels, evaporation could be reduced by up to 90%.
Experts believe that floating solar energy systems could become part of Jordan's green transformation, especially given the limited land and increasing demand for water and energy.
A Visit Reveals the Future
In a field visit organized by FAO and the Jordan Valley Authority, representatives from embassies, ministries, and local researchers stood on the dam's surface, observing the floating panels up close. The sun's rays hit the water, while small fans and sensor devices continued to collect data that will determine the future of the technology in Jordan.
The Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for FAO for the Near East and North Africa, Dr. Abdel Hakim El Waer, said that the project "embodies a model of fruitful cooperation between national institutions and international organizations to support efficient management of energy and water and achieve food and water security."
The FAO Representative in Jordan, engineer Nabil Assaf, pointed out that: "This model offers dual benefits. We increase energy production and reduce water loss. It is a practical example of adapting to climate change."
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority, Engineer Hisham Al Heisah, indicating the structure of the floating system, said that this system has become part of the authority's direction to reduce the cost of energy, which constitutes about 20% of the operation in the water sector. He added: "Today we test a model that could transform into a wide national project tomorrow."
In his part, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Engineer Mohammed Al Hayari explained that the project enhances the ministry's directions towards expanding clean energy in irrigation and agricultural production."
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A Vision Beyond Panels and Water
The project does not stop at the limits of King Talal Dam; it is a step in a long path. Its results will be used to build technical schematics and feasibility studies for the possibility of deploying floating systems in other dams, enhancing both water and energy security, and reducing carbon emissions.
And on the surface of the dam, where the sun meets the water, the future looks clearer: a simple technology... with a significant impact... that could change how we harvest energy and how we protect the water.
