In the magnificent Ouarzazate basin in Morocco lies a massive Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, boasting over half a million large mirrors visible from space. Morocco, despite lacking substantial oil and gas reserves, ventured into renewables with a $4 billion investment, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This ambitious project attracts tourists and symbolizes a shift towards sustainable energy.
The Ouarzazate basin, known as the “Door of the Desert,” was a natural choice for this mega solar plant due to its dry, sunny climate and its fame as a movie and TV production hub. Films like Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones were shot here. The Noor Power Plant, located 6.2 miles from Ouarzazate, represents a marvel in fighting climate change.
Engineers divided the 11.6 square-mile complex into four stages: Noor 1, Noor 2, Noor 3, and Noor 4, each utilizing different technologies. Noor 1 and 2 use cylindrical parabolic mirrors, Noor 3 employs a solar power tower, and Noor 4 is a hybrid photovoltaic plant. The entire complex produces 582 megawatts, enough to power over a million homes.
Funding this project was challenging, but Morocco secured loans from international partners like the Clean Technology Fund and the World Bank. The Saudi firm ACWA Power, along with the Spanish consortium TSK-Acciona-Sener and the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen), played crucial roles in its development. Despite logistical challenges, including transporting materials across the Atlas Mountains, the project was completed on time.
The technology behind Noor 1 to 3 involves concentrating solar power to generate steam that drives turbines, similar to coal or nuclear plants but cleaner. Noor 4 uses photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The CSP plants even generate power at night, using molten salts and pressurized steam tanks to store heat.
Noor 1, inaugurated in 2015, uses parabolic mirrors to heat thermal oil, which then generates steam to power turbines. Noor 2, completed in 2018, is similar but features dry cooling to reduce water usage. Noor 3, also completed in 2018, uses sun-tracking heliostats to focus sunlight on a central tower. Noor 4, differing from the others, employs photovoltaic panels.
Despite concerns about water usage, the project demonstrates that CSP plants can reuse water effectively, and dry cooling systems mitigate water scarcity issues. The Noor complex cuts CO2 emissions by a million tonnes annually, showcasing Morocco’s commitment to sustainable energy.
