Raja'a Taleb-Naji

Jordanian engineer and environmentalist who pioneered solar energy adoption in the Middle East, driving regional sustainability transitions.

Raja’a Taleb-Naji catalyzed Jordan's renewable energy shift by establishing Ares Energy Solutions in 2015, the first large-scale solar firm in the region. Her projects, including the 232 MW Jordan Solar Park, reduced national dependence on fossil fuels. By 2020, her initiatives supplied 10% of Jordan's electricity, cutting CO2 emissions by 1.2 million tons annually.

Taleb-Naji's advocacy shaped Jordan's 2020 Renewable Energy Strategy, which aims for 30% renewables by 2030. She co-founded the MENA Renewable Energy Association, fostering cross-border collaboration among Gulf states. Her UNDP report (2018) demonstrated how solar could meet 90% of regional energy needs by 2050.

Despite political hurdles—like subsidy reforms facing public backlash—she persisted, securing $2B+ in international green financing. Honored as Green Power Leader (2019), her work inspired projects like Saudi Arabia's NEOM solar initiatives. Critics question grid infrastructure readiness, yet her technical white papers on arid solar tech set global benchmarks.