Long criticized for its costly technological choices, the Noor I solar power plant in Ouarzazate has just received a positive evaluation from the German bank KfW, a co-financier of the project. The audit, based on OECD criteria, highlights the relevance, effectiveness, and impact of the project, putting into perspective the criticisms expressed at its launch.
Out of six analyzed criteria, Noor I received five top scores, with the exception of sustainability, which was penalized by water stress affecting the El Mansour Eddahbi dam used for its cooling.
In terms of performance, the plant even exceeds its initial objectives: planned to produce 370 GWh/year, it achieves an average of 424 GWh, preventing the emission of more than 238,000 tons of CO₂ per year. The evaluation also highlights the creation of 1,900 jobs during the construction phase, as well as a significant improvement in profitability, which rose from 0.9% to 3.4%, with costs 16% lower than forecasted.
The KfW report also reminds that the choice of CSP technology with thermal storage, criticized since then, addressed a strategic challenge in 2016: to produce electricity after sunset, at a time when storage solutions for photovoltaics were not yet mature.
This new assessment contrasts with the reservations expressed by the CESE in 2020, which deemed CSP too costly and not sustainable in the long term. While experts at the time advised against using it again, the case of Noor I now seems to demonstrate its relevance in a given context.
However, the evaluation does not overlook the project’s limitations, notably significant water losses and estimated annual financial losses of 33 million euros, despite the presence of public guarantees.
In summary, the Noor I plant now appears as a pioneering infrastructure that has managed to meet its energy and environmental objectives while providing valuable lessons for future solar strategies.