(3 Minutes Read)
Saudi Arabian renewable energy utility ACWA Power International reported a storage breakdown at one of the solar plants it operates in Morocco that will cost the company an estimated USD 47 million.
This loss has been announced following the forced shutdown of this energy infrastructure, due to a breakdown that occurred several days ago. According to the independent power producer (IPP), a leak has been observed in its hot molten salt tank, an essential piece of equipment that stores the heat needed to produce electricity at least 7 hours after sunset.
The repair will take at least seven months, and ACWA Power is considering building a new storage tank. With a capacity of 150 MW, Noor Ouarzazate III is part of a complex of four solar power plants with a combined capacity of 580 MW. ACWA Power, which holds a 75% stake (25% for the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, Masen), is due to relaunch the plant in November 2024.
In a 2020 report, Morocco’s economic, social, and environmental council recommended abandoning CSP altogether due to its high cost compared to photovoltaic and wind energy. Morocco aims for renewables to represent 52% of installed capacity by 2030 from 37.6% now, mostly through investments in solar and wind plants.
The Noor Ouarzazate III CSP will operate for at least another 19 years. This major breakdown comes when Morocco wants to speed up its energy transition, to produce 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
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Noor III thermodynamic Solar Power Plant is the first tower CSP in Morocco. Its construction required an investment of 7.18 billion Moroccan dirhams, or more than $709 million. It was financed with the support of several lenders, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the French Development Agency (AFD), the German Development Agency (KfW), and the World Bank.
