Noor | نور

Ouarzazate’s Solar Power Station

Noor Ouarzazate is a solar power complex located 10 kilometers from Ouarzazate city. The production of the solar power station is 510 MW, Make in it the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant. The entire complex is planned to produce up to 582 MW. The total project’s estimated cost is around $2.5 B.

The solar power station is being developed with the help of the Spanish consortium TSK-Acciona-Sener and is the first in a series of planned developments at the Ouarzazate Solar Complex by the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN).

Water consumption for the Ouarzazate Noor complex is estimated at 2.5 to 3 million m3 per year for one wet- cooling project (Noor I) and two dry – cooling projects (Noor II and III), due to the need to clean the reflectors regularly.

The Noor I CSP plant offsets 240,000t of CO₂ emissions a year and generated approximately 1,000 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs during the operation and maintenance phase. Together, the Noor II and Noor III plants can offset 533,000t of CO₂ emissions a year. ˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉ ᵖᵒʷᵉʳ⁻ᵗᵉᶜʰⁿᵒˡᵒᵍʸ.ᶜᵒᵐ

Ouarzazate solar power station view from airplant
  • Surface area: 480 ha
  • Installed power: 160 MW
  • CO2 avoided: 280 000 t/year
  • Commissioned: February 2016
  • Price of Kwh: 1,62 DH
  • Total investment: About 7000 Million MAD
  • The technology used: CSP, with thermal storage of about 3 hours

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Ouarzazate solar power station map

Noor Ourzazate can be visited

If you are traveling to Skoura you can also visit Noor on your way, but you’ll have to submit a request one month prior to the desired dates. Shorts, dresses, miniskirts, heels, and open sandals are forbidden on the site. Long-sleeved sweaters are highly recommended.

Morocco in the fast lane with world’s largest concentrated solar farm (CNN)

It’s not just on the track that Morocco is aiming to become a world leader in renewable energy.
As well as a host nation of a Formula ePrix, the country is also home to the world’s largest concentrated solar farm…. read more