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Solar power in Morocco
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<h2 id="renewable-energy-transformation">Renewable energy transformation</h2> <p>An <a href="/facts/International_Energy_Agency/HErEraSy">International Energy Agency</a> (IEA) report from July 2023 highlights that in 2020, imported fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—accounted for over 80% of Morocco's electricity generation. It outlines that Morocco has developed a plan to transform its energy sector by 2030, aiming to increase the <a href="/facts/Renewable_energy/6Bu6IrpF">renewable energy</a> share to 52%, with specific targets of 20% for solar power, 20% for wind energy, and 12% for hydroelectric power. This approach seeks to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Additionally, under its <a href="/facts/Nationally_determined_contribution/p3FWRzHK">Nationally Determined Contributions</a> (NDC), Morocco plans to cut <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas_emissions/Cu9nXPHE">greenhouse gas emissions</a> to 18.3% below its baseline levels by 2030, a reduction that could reach 45.5% with international support. To address the solar power's variability and boost energy system resilience, Morocco has also invested in pumped storage hydropower.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="largest-solar-power-plants">Largest solar power plants</h2> <p>Morocco Renewable Energy solar projects to be installed between now and 2030 </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Output (<a href="/facts/Megawatt/VK8oqRrm">MW</a>)</th><th>Location</th><th>Technology</th><th>Status</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Ain_Beni_Mathar_Integrated_Thermo_Solar_Combined_Cycle_Power_Plant/CBKp1up5">Ain Beni Mathar</a></td><td>20<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Ain_Bni_Mathar/dqz9j8vK">Ain Bni Mathar</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Parabolic_trough/NHW0Vxk5">Parabolic trough</a></td><td>complete</td><td>Also runs on fossil fuels (Gas)</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Noor_I/dcw2dmFL">Noor I</a></td><td>160</td><td><a href="/facts/Dr%C3%A2a-Tafilalet/KmpAJSyC">Drâa-Tafilalet</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Parabolic_trough/NHW0Vxk5">Parabolic trough</a></td><td>complete</td><td>Part of <a href="/facts/Ouarzazate_Solar_Power_Station/dcw2dmFL">Ouarzazate Solar Power Station</a></td></tr><tr><td>Noor II</td><td>200</td><td><a href="/facts/Dr%C3%A2a-Tafilalet/KmpAJSyC">Drâa-Tafilalet</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Parabolic_trough/NHW0Vxk5">Parabolic trough</a></td><td>complete</td><td>Part of <a href="/facts/Ouarzazate_Solar_Power_Station/dcw2dmFL">Ouarzazate Solar Power Station</a></td></tr><tr><td>Noor III</td><td>150</td><td><a href="/facts/Dr%C3%A2a-Tafilalet/KmpAJSyC">Drâa-Tafilalet</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Solar_power_tower/x5J1350Y">solar power tower</a></td><td>complete</td><td>Part of <a href="/facts/Ouarzazate_Solar_Power_Station/dcw2dmFL">Ouarzazate Solar Power Station</a></td></tr><tr><td>Noor IV</td><td>72</td><td><a href="/facts/Dr%C3%A2a-Tafilalet/KmpAJSyC">Drâa-Tafilalet</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Photovoltaics/5Xefaayl">Photovoltaics</a> with tracking</td><td>complete</td><td>Part of <a href="/facts/Ouarzazate_Solar_Power_Station/dcw2dmFL">Ouarzazate Solar Power Station</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Ouarzazate solar plant</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Ouarzazate_solar_power_station/dcw2dmFL">Ouarzazate solar power station</a></p> <p>The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy invited expressions of interest in the design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of the first of the five planned solar power stations, the 500 MW complex in the southern town of <a href="/facts/Ouarzazate/C7rU9sjP">Ouarzazate</a>, that includes both <a href="/facts/Photovoltaics/5Xefaayl">PV</a> and <a href="/facts/Concentrated_solar_power/VdH6Cyn1">CSP</a>. Construction officially began on 10 May 2013.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> The project is divided in 3 phases: a 160MW <a href="/facts/Concentrated_solar_power/VdH6Cyn1">concentrated solar power</a> project, a 200MW <a href="/facts/Solar_thermal/VHzn41co">parabolic mirror</a> plant, and a 150MW <a href="/facts/Solar_trough/NHW0Vxk5">solar trough</a> plant.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>The 160 MW first phase, <i>Noor I</i>, was brought online in February 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> The project was awarded to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's <a href="/facts/Al-Muhaidib/JkbkskvG">ACWA Power</a>, which sells the electricity produced for $0.19/kW·h, and co-financed by the <a href="/facts/World_Bank/hIH9uUb2">World Bank</a> and the <a href="/facts/European_Investment_Bank/uXIa0lkR">European Investment Bank</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> The second phase, the 200 MW <i>Noor 2</i> plant, came online in January 2018, and the third phase came online in December 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> These two phases provide another 580 MW and cover 6,000 acres.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>A fourth phase of the project, <i>Noor IV</i>, was also completed in 2018, is a 72 MW photovoltaic station.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h3>Planned</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Output</th><th>Location</th><th>Technology</th><th>Status</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td>Sebkhate Tah</td><td>500MW</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Foum Al-Oued</td><td>500MW</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Boujdour</td><td>100 MW</td><td></td><td></td><td>Planned</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Noor Midelt</td><td>800 MW</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Noor PV II</td><td>800MW</td><td>Taroudant, Kalâat Seraghna, Bejaâd, Guercif, El Hajeb</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Noor-Tafilalet</td><td>120 MW</td><td>Zagora, Erfoud and Missour</td><td></td><td>Planned</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Noor Atlas</td><td>800MW</td><td>Tata/Tahla/Tan Tan/Outat El Haj/Ain Beni Mathar/Boudnib/Bouanane/Boulemane</td><td><a href="/facts/Photovoltaics/5Xefaayl">Photovoltaics</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Noor Argana</td><td>200 MW</td><td>Boumalne/Tinghir/Errhamna/Essaouira</td><td><a href="/facts/Photovoltaics/5Xefaayl">Photovoltaics</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Morocco portal</li><li>Energy portal</li><li>Renewable energy portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Energy_policy_of_Morocco/LweKScCX">Energy policy of Morocco</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Renewable_energy_in_Morocco/Hc49UV68">Renewable energy in Morocco</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Wind_power_in_Morocco/jbBwPQLQ">Wind power in Morocco</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_renewable_energy_topics_by_country/LqFVJAU8">Renewable energy by country</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Xlinks_Morocco-UK_Power_Project/LYGQyf81">Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solar power in Morocco. <ul><li><a href="http://www.eurosunmed.eu/">Eurosunmed - Agency for European - Moroccan Cooperation on Solar Energy</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>AfDB helps fund $1.44bn Moroccan solar project <a href="http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-16983-afdb-helps-fund-144bn-moroccan-solar-project/" target="_blank">http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-16983-afdb-helps-fund-144bn-moroccan-solar-project/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Spain Electricity Security Policy – Analysis". IEA. Archived from the original on 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2024-02-24. <a href="https://www.iea.org/articles/spain-electricity-security-policy" target="_blank">https://www.iea.org/articles/spain-electricity-security-policy</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Farge, Emma. "Morocco to upgrade power link with Spain". U.S. Retrieved 2018-11-22. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/ozabs-morocco-spain-cable-idAFJOE5A80T420091109" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/article/ozabs-morocco-spain-cable-idAFJOE5A80T420091109</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Climate Resilience for Energy Transition in Morocco – Analysis". IEA. Retrieved 2024-02-07. <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-resilience-for-energy-transition-in-morocco" target="_blank">https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-resilience-for-energy-transition-in-morocco</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Only solar output <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Morocco launches solar mega-project at Ouarzazate". phys.org. AFP. 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014. <a href="http://phys.org/news/2013-05-morocco-solar-mega-project-ouarzazate.html" target="_blank">http://phys.org/news/2013-05-morocco-solar-mega-project-ouarzazate.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Construction begins on 160 MW CSP plant in Morocco, pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/construction-begins-on-160-mw-csp-plant-in-morocco-_100011255/#axzz3OWLu4WTY <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Saudi’s ACWA Power Wins 1.7bn Euro Morocco Solar Power Deal, Reuters, January 10, 2015 <a href="http://gulfbusiness.com/2015/01/saudis-acwa-power-wins-1-7bn-euro-morocco-solar-power-deal/#.VLJ4byvF_8Z" target="_blank">http://gulfbusiness.com/2015/01/saudis-acwa-power-wins-1-7bn-euro-morocco-solar-power-deal/#.VLJ4byvF_8Z</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"World's largest concentrated solar plant switches on in the Sahara". cnn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2016. <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/08/africa/ouarzazate-morocco-solar-plant/" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/08/africa/ouarzazate-morocco-solar-plant/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Saudi-led consortium wins Morocco solar energy bid <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/saudi-led-consortium-wins-morocco-solar-energy-bid-153652570--finance.html" target="_blank">https://finance.yahoo.com/news/saudi-led-consortium-wins-morocco-solar-energy-bid-153652570--finance.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Ouarzazate Solar Power Plant, Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco". Archived from the original on 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2024-02-25. <a href="https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/ouarzazate-solar-power-plant-draa-tafilalet/" target="_blank">https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/ouarzazate-solar-power-plant-draa-tafilalet/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Jamie, Condliffe. "Morocco Switches On First Phase Of The World's Largest Solar Plant". GIZMODO. Retrieved 8 February 2016. <a href="https://gizmodo.com/morocco-switches-on-first-phase-of-the-worlds-largest-s-1757281810" target="_blank">https://gizmodo.com/morocco-switches-on-first-phase-of-the-worlds-largest-s-1757281810</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Sunny Days in Morocco's Ouarzazate Basin". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 2023-03-23. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-02-25. <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151119/sunny-days-in-moroccos-ouarzazate-basin" target="_blank">https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151119/sunny-days-in-moroccos-ouarzazate-basin</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Noor IV lancée, parachevant la méga-centrale solaire de Ouarzazate". Le Desk. 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2019-03-24. <a href="https://ledesk.ma/2017/04/01/noor-iv-lance-parachevant-la-mega-centrale-solaire-de-ouarzazate/" target="_blank">https://ledesk.ma/2017/04/01/noor-iv-lance-parachevant-la-mega-centrale-solaire-de-ouarzazate/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>