Thermal solar pushed by batteries in Morocco

“With hindsight, Ouarzazate served as a testing ground for an immature CSP technology,” said another source.

Technological problems stopped all output at a 150 MW plant there for a year from summer 2021, said two of the sources.

ONEE cited problems at Noor Ouarzazate, Morocco’s best-known solar complex, as the reason for wanting MASEN to change the technology at Noor Midelt

MASEN and the grid eventually signed a power purchase agreement, but there are still discussions between MASEN and the development consortium over the technology specifications

Construction has not even started on the planned $2 billion 800 MW Noor Midelt I plant, which was meant to start operating this year, after the Energy Ministry and grid operator ONEE rejected the proposed CSP technology

after the contract was awarded ONEE and the Energy Ministry said they would only agree to buy the power if MASEN either abandoned CSP for PV or changed from thermal salt energy storage to batteries

EDF Renouvelables said Morocco had decided to restart the development in 2022 with a mix of PV, CSP and battery storage

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