Morocco Restarts Noor III Solar Plant

Key Figures & Findings: The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) has resumed operations at the Noor Ouarzazate III solar plant, 14 months after a major technical failure halted production. The plant, which uses concentrated solar power (CSP) tower technology, had experienced recurrent issues with its thermal storage system, highlighting persistent challenges in the CSP sector. MASEN confirmed that a second reservoir with an improved design is under construction to bolster the reliability of operations. Noor Ouarzazate III is part of the broader Noor Solar Complex, one of the world’s largest solar developments. This restoration comes as Morocco edges closer to its national renewable energy target and reaffirms MASEN’s commitment to integrating storage-enhanced solar capacity into its grid.

Statistics & Insights: Noor III has a capacity of 150 MW and has been offline since February 2024. The cost of fixing the storage failure is estimated at $47 million. The country is nearing its 52% renewable energy target in installed capacity.

Future Implications: If the upgraded reservoir proves effective, CSP may remain viable in Morocco’s energy roadmap beyond 2026. However, repeated failures would likely accelerate a shift toward more stable solar PV and wind solutions.

Source: North Africa Post