The world’s first Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) plant continues to move along with Morocco’s Office National de l’Electricité (ONE) and Abener signing a provisional acceptance agreement.
The document certifies the proper operation of the plant when used to its maximum capacity, thus confirming that it meets the expectations agreed upon, marking the start of the operation and maintenance stage. Abener will be over this stage for the next five years with ONE to be in charge once the plant reaches full operation.
Ain Beni Mathar is the first ISCC hybrid solar-gas plant in the world that, once fully operational, will have an output of 470 MW. Of that total, 20 MW will be generated from the 62 hectare solar field made up of 224 parabolic trough collectors. The remaining output will be generated by a conventional combined cycle that consists of one steam turbine and two gas turbines. Abener said in a release, “This one of the most complex challenges we have ever faced at Abener, but despite the technical difficulties and our lack of previous experience in this type of facilities, we managed to complete the project successfully. This would have never been possible without the outstanding work carried out by the project team as a whole.”
The largest thermosolar plant with ISCC technology was officially inaugurated on May 12.
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