UNHCR aims for Syrian refugee camp to be 97% sustainable in 2024

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan has declared that the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps for Syrians will shift to nearly exclusive reliance on sustainable energy by the close of 2024. Recent data from the UN agency reveals that 97 per cent of the electricity needs in both camps are fulfilled through solar energy.

Solar power stations within the camps cover 60 to 70 per cent of the electricity requirements, while the remaining 30 per cent is sourced from the national grid, relying on carbon-based power stations. An agreement enables the transfer of green energy from a 46-megawatt solar power station in southern Jordan to the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps. Additionally, power generated from two solar power stations within the camps contributes to this initiative, as reported by Al-Mamlaka TV.

This near-exclusive reliance on sustainable energy is a significant step in reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the UNHCR’s global commitments. In 2016, the Azraq camp became the world’s first refugee camp to be supplied with renewable energy, featuring a 2-megawatt solar power station. Subsequently, in 2017, the Zaatari camp, housing 84,314 refugees, inaugurated the largest solar power project of its kind in any refugee camp globally.

The Zaatari solar power generation station, constructed at a cost of $17.5 million, operates at 12.9 megawatts and provides an annual saving of $5.5 million. The UNHCR will cover operational expenses, maintenance costs, and the replacement of renewable energy produced in southern Jordan, anticipating a reduction in energy expenditure by 2024.