Morocco has just inaugurated the first part of what will be the largest solar power plant in the world.
It will be able to supply energy to 1 million people.
Located outside the city of Ouarzazate, the plant is spread over an area equivalent to that of Rabat, the country's capital.
Ultimately, it will be able to generate 580 MW of electricity .
The plant uses thermodynamic technology , a system of cylindrical-parabolic curved mirrors that concentrate the sun's rays on tubes filled with salt.
These panels constantly follow the movement of the sun and help store and retain heat.
The molten salt in the tubes accumulates solar energy and powers a steam turbine, capable of producing energy, even during the night.
“The plant's 500,000 curved mirrors are installed on an area equivalent to 35 football pitches. They are removable and can converge solar energy throughout the day,” explains Paddy Padmanathan of ACWA Power, which is building and operating the project.
Thanks to molten salts, the first part of the giant power plant, called Noor 1, can store solar energy for up to 3 hours after sunset.
This first solar power plant is only part of the project. Two others, Noor 2 and 3, are planned and should enter service in 2017. They will be able to store thermal heat for up to 8 am. Watch this report that details the project:
This project of 8 billion euros is of great scope for the energy independence of Morocco. Indeed, this North African country is currently dependent on fossil fuels and imports 97% of its energy.
According to the World Bank, the Ouarzazate solar power plant will reduce Morocco's energy dependence by 2.5 million tonnes of oil .
In addition, it will also reduce carbon emissions by 760,000 tonnes per year, a reduction of 17.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions over 25 years.
The ambitions of King Mohammed VI are unambiguous:to transform Morocco into a true world power in terms of renewable energy.
According to Hakima el Haite, Moroccan Minister for the Environment, "we are convinced that climate change represents a real opportunity for our country".
Morocco's objective is to increase the share of renewable resources in the electricity mix to 42% by 2020, an ambition that far exceeds those of other much richer and more developed countries.
By way of comparison, President Obama wanted to increase the share of renewable resources in the United States to 20% by 2020.
As for the UK government, the target has been set at 30% renewable resources in the electricity mix.
If all goes as planned for this solar power plant project, Mr. Padmanabhan believes that Morocco will be able to export its surplus renewable energy to neighboring countries.
"If Morocco manages to produce electricity at 7-8 cents per kW - which is perfectly possible - the kingdom will end up with thousands of megawatts in surplus he explains.
For Padmanabhan, “it is obvious that Morocco will be able to export energy to Europe and, sooner or later, it will. It is enough simply to wait for the day when Europe will wish to enter into negotiation for the importation of Moroccan energy. .
With its impressive expanse of sunny deserts, Morocco looks poised to become a global solar power superpower.
On closer inspection, this is hardly surprising given that the country enjoys one of the highest sunshine indices on the planet, 3,000 hours of sunshine per year .
