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King Mohammed VI of Morocco with a model of future plants including CSP and PV technology
The NOOR Plan, which was launched by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, continues its implementation with the development of phase II and phase III of the concentrating solar power (CSP) complex NOOR Ouarzazate, targeting a minimum capacity of 500 MW.
The launch of integrated projects such as NOORO II and NOORO III, with positive impact on the Moroccan economy, brings the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) closer to the ambitious objectives defined in the energy and environment strategy that is NOOR, the agency emphasizes.
After signing the financing agreements on the December 19th, 2014 with outstanding international financial institutions, Masen on January 10th, 2015 announced the award of the tender process for the design, financing, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the projects NOOR II and NOOR III to the consortium composed of Acwa Power (lead member) and the Sener group.
NOOR III to use solar tower technology
Like NOOR I, NOOR II will be based on the parabolic trough CSP technology with a capacity of 200 MW and 7 hours of storage. The related evaluated kWh price, in peak hours, is 1.36 Moroccan Dirham (MAD, approx. USD 0.14).
NOOR III will introduce a technological diversification with a different solar technology, CSP tower, with a capacity of 150 MW and between 7 to 8 hours of storage. The related evaluated kWh price, in peak hours, is 1.42 MAD (approx. USD 0.15).
NOOR IV will use solar PV technology with a minimum capacity of 50 MW
Through a close and successful work with the national utility Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE), NOOR II and NOOR III projects are developed simultaneously by Masen, which is acting within an Independent Power Production (IPP) framework, in order to generate a useful power at the best standards.
These positive results bolster Masen in its continuous approach of process optimization (with the support of all parties involved) and confirm the quality and credibility associated today with the NOOR plan, the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy emphasizes.
NOOR Ouarzazate last development phase – NOOR IV, will use solar photovoltaic (PV) technology with a minimum capacity of 50 MW. The targeted capacity of the complex will then be reached through a mix of complementary solar technologies, being CSP and PV.
2015-01-12 | Courtesy: Masen; Image: ACWA | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH
