The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) has requested clarifications from bidders for its planned Noor Midelt project, which is likely to consist of two hybrid-solar plants each with a capacity of 400MW.

Masen received technical proposals on 12 December from three international consortiums for the hybrid solar scheme, and is currently undergoing the clarification process on the technical submissions before it sets a submission date for commercial proposals.

The three bidders for the solar project, which will be a hybrid concentrated solar power (CSP)/photovoltaic (PV) scheme are: Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia), EDF (France) and Engie (France).

The two 400MW plants are expected to consist of two separate plants with a CSP capacity of 150-190MW and a minimum of 5 hours of thermal storage. The capacity of the PV component, for daytime generation, will be left to the bidders’ discretion, but it will not be allowed to exceed night time capacity from CSP by more than 20 per cent.

The Noor Midelt complex will be located on 3,150 hectares of land, 20km north of the town of Midelt in northern Morocco. The hybrid scheme will be developed as an IPP using a BOOT concession under a long-term PPA between Masen and the project company.

As with Morocco’s other solar IPP schemes, Masen will buy the electricity at the price offered by the successful bidder and sell it to ONEE through a second PPA between Masen and the utility. Masen will provide the site infrastructure, including roads, water and power.