SeeNews Renewables
by Mariyana Yaneva
Saudi Arabia’s power and water project developer ACWA Power will sign a contract for the development of the fourth and last phase of Morocco’s flagship solar power complex Noor Ouarzazate next week, Moroccan daily L’economiste reports.
Informed sources told the newspaper that the Saudi Arabian company has successfully won the right to develop the 70 MW last phase of the complex using photovoltaic (PV) technology.
The contract award is hardly surprising as ACWA Power has also won the development of all three previous phases of the complex which use concentrating solar power (CSP) technology.
The first, 160-MW phase was inaugurated in February this year. Moroccan media valued the overall investment at between MAD 6.3 billion (USD 652m/EUR 577m) and MAD 8 billion (USD 826m/EUR 734m), while the contracted power purchase price is MAD 1.6 (USD 0.159/EUR 0.150) per kWh.
The 200 MW second phase, coupled with seven hours of energy storage capability will sell its electricity output at MAD 1.36 per kW while the third, 150 MW phase will sell power at MAD 1.42 per kWh and construction costs have been estimated at EUR 645 million.
When all four phases are completed the Ouarzazate complex will be the world’s largest multi-technology solar power plant with 580 MW of nameplate capacity and an overall investment of more than MAD 24 billion.
by Mariyana Yaneva
Mariyana is a founding member of the SeeNews Renewables team. With nine years of professional experience in renewables she has built strong expertise in the wind industry and French-speaking markets.
