In an effort to expand its renewable energy sector, especially solar power, Morocco has issued a tender for a large-scale solar power project. The country’s solar energy agency, Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), invited bids from prospective project developers to set up a hybrid solar power project.
The project will have a total installed capacity of 400 MW and will include systems based on solar PV as well as solar thermal power generation technology.
Morocco already has a number of solar activities in the works including its multi-faceted Noor Quarzazate project. Phase 1 of the project Noor 1 is just about ready to start up, and in fact was supposed to be inaugurated last week. Noor I is comprised of a 160 MW parabolic trough-power facility.
Phase 2 of Morocco’s Noor Quarzazate project includes two projects, Noor II and Noor III, with capacities of 200 MW and 150 MW respectively. Noor II will be based on parabolic technology whereas Noor III will be developed using power tower technology. Phase 3 of the Noor-Quarzazate project, Noor IV, will include the development of a 50-MW solar PV power plant.