Morocco poised to become a solar superpower

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in mind our energy needs and the fact that we have bright sunshine most of the year, here is an example we can easily follow and one which will solve our energy problems. Realising that demand for electricity has almost tripled since 1999 and that they were dependent on imports for 97% of that energy, the kingdom of Morocco had a vision to promote renewables at a time when oil prices were high; it undertook regulatory reforms; put institutions in place and has managed to establish what will eventually be the largest solar plant in the world.

The power station on the edge of the Saharan desert will be the size of the country’s capital city by the time it is finished in 2018; provide electricity for 1.1 million people and cut carbon emissions by 760,000 tons a year!

King Mohammed VI commissioned the first plant of the Ouarzazate solar complex (Noor I) recently and officially launched the construction works of the second and third plants of this mega project (Noor II and Noor III).

Built on an area of about 480 hectares, the 160MW power plant is equipped with thermo-solar cylindrical parabolic troughs and has three hours of energy storage capability. The project required an investment of 7 billion dirhams.

Built on area of 680 hectares, Noor II (810 million euros) is a 200MW power plant with thermo-solar cylindrical parabolic troughs and 7 hours of energy storage capability.Noor III is an installed capacity of 150MW which will employ central tower technology with salt receivers and 7 to 8 hours of energy storage capability and will require a budget of 645 million euros.

These three projects, combined with the photovoltaic phase (Noor IV), will make Noor Ouarzazate the largest multi-technology solar production site in the world with a capacity of 580MW and a total investment of over 24 billion dirhams, excluding common infrastructure development. These infrastructures meet the needs of electric connection, road transport, supply of raw and potable water, drainage, telecommunications and security.

The Noor Ouarzazate complex will also house a 16-hectare theme park whose layout reproduces the map of the kingdom, as well as structural facilities, including a multipurpose building with spaces dedicated to the operation and functioning of the site, an auditorium, a media library and an observation tower offering panoramic views.