Once all three phases are commissioned later this year, Noor will be the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) complex.

The CSP complex in Ourzazate is being developed by Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power. The 160MW Noor 1 independent power project (IPP) was commissioned in 2015. Noor 1 incorporates three hours of molten salt storage, which allows the plant to meet evening electricity demand. It is the largest CSP plant in the Middle East and North Africa.

Noor 2 is a 200MW CSP parabolic trough facility with about seven hours of thermal storage. Construction began in 2015. The tariff is 14$c/kWh. Noor 3, a 150MW CSP tower with about seven hours of storage, has a tariff of 15$c/kWh. Commissioning for both is expected towards the end of 2017.

The Noor 1 plant is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 240,000 tonnes a year (t/y), while the Noor 2 and 3 facilities combined will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 533,000 t/y.

Morocco also plans a hybridised CSP-photovoltaic IPP, Noor Midelt Phase 1, which will generate at least 400MW per phase, with an eventual capacity of 800MW. It will be tendered in mid-July.