Morocco Noor III Solar-Thermal Power Plant runs smoothly

The Morocco Noor III 150 MW Solar-Thermal Power Plant -- the world's biggest solar tower power plant -- is running smoothly, according to the contractor, and it is also the largest energy infrastructure project implemented in Morocco in North Africa in recent years.

Relying on years of rich overseas project execution experience and a strong performance brand, SPECO III -- a subsidiary of POWERCHINA -- won the engineering procurement construction (EPC) contract in 2015 and the project was connected to the grid on Aug 15, 2018.

The Morocco Noor III 150 MW Solar-Thermal Power Plant is the world's biggest solar tower power plant. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

The project uses tower-type solar thermal power generation technology, deploying 7,400 giant heliostats to track the sun intermittently. It reflects sunlight to the high-efficiency heat sink on the top of the light tower, to gather heat and generate power.

After sunset, the giant storage tank in the power station can ensure it generates electricity at full capacity for seven hours.

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Strait of Gibraltar to the north, Morocco has a superior geographical location, but its energy resources are quite scarce. It previously needed to import large amounts of electricity from neighboring Spain every year.

The Morocco Noor III 150 MW Solar-Thermal Power Plant is up and running. It connected to the grid on Aug 15, 2018. [Photo/POWERCHINA]

However, with the completion of the power plant, this situation has been fundamentally reversed.

The project can deliver 530 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy to the Moroccan power grid each year, which greatly eases the energy shortage and it can also transmit surplus electricity to Europe, laying a solid foundation for Morocco's energy self-sufficiency and independent development.

In addition, the power plant can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 230,000 metric tons per year, providing strong support for the green and sustainable development and environmental protection of Morocco.

During the construction, the project also created nearly 14,000 jobs for the local area and helped Moroccan companies train staff members in electricity power equipment and power engineering construction. It also promoted the upgrading of Morocco's technology and industry.