After fourteen months of interruption, the Noor III solar thermal power plant, a symbol of Morocco’s energy transition, is operational again. The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) confirmed on Monday, April 21, the restart of this strategic infrastructure with a capacity of 150 megawatts, following extensive repair work.
A major technical incident in February 2024 had halted this plant located in Ouarzazate. The cause was a leak detected in the high-temperature molten salt reservoir, a key component of the thermal storage system. An immediate shutdown of the facility was ordered, putting on hold a flagship project inaugurated in 2018, designed around a central tower powered by over 7,000 heliostat mirrors.
According to Masen, the recommissioning of Noor III required particularly complex interventions, mobilizing high-level skills and rigorous safety procedures. Each step of the restart was meticulously checked to meet the strictest technical, environmental, and human standards. Meanwhile, the construction of a new reservoir is underway, aimed at ensuring the sustainability and optimization of the thermal system.
Noor III relies on advanced solar concentration technology. By capturing sunlight, the plant heats molten salts to 565 °C, storing the produced energy for electrical output even in the absence of sunlight. This system thus allows for stable energy production, including at night.
Developed by the Spanish group SENER and operated by the Saudi company Acwa Power, the plant had incurred losses estimated at 45 million dollars due to the incident. The resumption of operations, initially scheduled for November 2024, had been delayed by the complexity of the repairs.
This restart occurs in a context where Morocco continues to strengthen its green energy strategy. The country aims to reach 52% renewable energy in its installed capacity by 2030. Currently, these represent about 42%, placing the Kingdom among the leaders in the region in terms of clean energy.