Jordan has become the fist developing nation to install solar-powered air conditioning units, according to press reports.

The Jordan Times quoted Minister of Environment Yaseen Khayyat as saying that the project was “a first of its kind”.

Four sites in Jordan are now equipped with units that turn sunlight into electricity to power cooling units, the newspaper said.

It is part of a 4.3m euro regional programme funded by the German international cooperation agency (GIZ).

Khayyat said that power consumption dropped by 40 per cent at the four locations following the installation of the thermal cooling systems.

“The state-of-the-art systems will not only reduce power consumption and encourage the use of renewable energy resources, but will also serve as a reference for researchers and experts in the field, as it is the first of its kind to be implemented in Jordan, the region and among developing countries,” Khayyat is reported as saying.