World's Largest Solar Energy Complex Launched

On Saturday, King Mohammed VI launched the final stage of the world’s largest solar energy complex, the Noor Ouarzazate IV power station, with a total capacity of 582 MW

This new project, which will be developed on an area of 137 ha using photovoltaic (PV) technology, shows King Mohammed VI’s determination to optimise the exploitation of Morocco’s natural resources, preserve its environment, promote its economic and social development and to ensure the future of upcoming generations.

According to a report carried by Morocco World News,  it reflects the special interest given by the King to energy projects and his desire to further promote Morocco’s expertise in a sector at the cutting edge of technology benefiting both Morocco and the African continent as a whole.

The construction of Noor Ouarzazate IV power station is in line with Morocco’s international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its major goal of increasing the share of renewable energies in the national electricity mix to 52 pc by 2030.

Worth over 750 million dirhams, Noor Ouarzazate IV has a capacity of 72 MW. It uses photovoltaic technology which makes it possible to produce electrical energy directly from the solar radiation captured by semi-conductor cells.

Noor Ouarzazate IV power station, scheduled to start operating in the first quarter of 2018, will be developed as part of a partnership involving the National Agency for Solar Energy (Masen), a central player in renewable energies in Morocco, and a consortium of private operators led by the group ACWA POWER.

German Development Bank KfW Bankengruppe, contributed 659 million dirhams to the financing of the project.

The second and third power stations of Noor solar complex (Noor II and Noor III) were launched by the Sovereign on February 04, 2016.

With a capacity of 200 MW, Noor II plant is developed on a maximum area of 680 ha, based on solar thermal technology, with cylindrical parabolic trough.

Noor Ouarzazate II, III and IV, combined with Noor Ouarzazate I (160 MW) that started operating in February 2016, make Noor Ouarzazate the largest multi-technology solar production site in the world, with a total investment of MAD 24 billion.

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