Huge Solar Thermal Power Plant In Morocco

A huge plant at Ouarzazate, Morocco using energy from the Sun is expected to open next month.

A huge plant at Ouarzazate, Morocco using energy from the Sun is expected to open next month.
The solar power plant, which is one of the largest solar power plants in the world, will be able to provide electricity to A million homes in Morocco.

The solar thermal park of Ouarzazate will bring Morocco closer to the ambitious goal of covering 42% of its needs in electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Ouarzazate's power station will not use the standard photovoltaic solar panels, but Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), a technology with parabolic collectors that harnesses sunlight to melt salt and power a steam turbine.

The mirrors will cover the same area as Rabat, which is the country's capital.

Until recently Morocco used to cover the 98% of energy needs from imported fossil fuels. However, King Mohammed VI has decided to turn his country into a leader of renewable energy, taking advantage of the vast capacity of Atlantic wind, mountain hydro power and scorching Saharan sun.

'We are convinced that climate change is an opportunity for our country,' Moroccan environment minister Hakima el Haite said.

The Solar Thermal Power Plant is estimated to reduce carbon emissions, and in a few years Morocco will be able to revert its position from energy importer to energy seller.

Source: BBC, dailymail.co.uk, grupotsk.com