King’s Academy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday with the International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA Power) to design, develop and construct an approximately 2.6 MWp Solar Photovoltaic Facility on the school’s campus. ACWA Power is donating the full cost of the project to King’s Academy, amounting to US $4 million.
The MoU was signed by King’s Academy Chairman HE Bassem Khalil Al-Salem and ACWA Power Chairman Mr. Mohammad Abunayyan, in the presence of Headmaster John Austin. According to the agreement, the company aims for the solar power facility to be operational by the spring of 2018.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Al-Salem expressed his thanks and appreciation to ACWA Power for their generous support.
“The school’s operational costs will be significantly reduced by shifting to clean and sustainable energy upon completion of this project, which will positively impact the school budget in coming years,” he said.
Al-Salem explained that around 42% of King’s students receive some form of financial assistance. “As a non-profit, without this kind of support King’s Academy would not be able to continue providing a first-rate education to young people who do not have the financial means to pay for it.”
King’s solar power plant is one of ACWA Power’s latest corporate sustainability and responsibility initiatives in Jordan.
The solar power plant will provide King’s with a safe, reliable and economical energy supply that will contribute to the school’s goal of sourcing its electricity needs through renewable and sustainable means.
ACWA Power is a developer, investor, co-owner and operator of a portfolio of power generation and desalinated water production plants with a presence in 11 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa and South East Asia. Coinciding with celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of King’s Academy, the signing ceremony took place during the official visit by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to Jordan this week, in which the Saudi and Jordanian governments signed a number of agreements, memoranda of understanding and joint investment deals.
“ACWA Power is proud to play a small part in contributing to the enhancement and sustainability of King’s Academy as we believe in the importance of the school’s message and vision,” said Abunayyan.
“King’s Academy is not only a school for Jordan; when HM King Abdullah founded this school it was a gift to the Arab world. Today, we see students here from across the region and the world, and this is an important message to the international community that the Arab world is ensuring the educational and cultural development of its youth,” Abunayyan added.