A consortium consisting of EDF, Masdar and Green of Africa has been selected to construct the 800MW solar complex in Morocco.
The consortium will be responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of Noor Midelt I multi-technologies solar plant.
The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) made the announcement. It said that the consortium emerged as the successful bidder after a competitive international bidding process.
Located 20km north of the town of Midelt in central Morocco, Noor Midelt I is a hybrid solar project that will combine concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) technologies.
The plant will be capable of generating and supplying electricity for the Moroccan grid even after sunset for five hours.
Construction works are expected to commence later this year. Energy from the project will be delivered to the grid starting in 2022.
The consortium members jointly released a statement saying that: “EDF Renewables, Masdar and Green of Africa would like to thank the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy and the King of Morocco for having designated our consortium as the successful bidder to develop the innovative NoorMidelt I with an installed capacity of 800MW hybrid concentrated solar power and photovoltaic power plant.
“The consortium is fully committed to supporting MASEN and the realisation of Morocco’s long-term renewable energy ambitions.”
The project is intended to support the Moroccan Government’s goal to generate 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
In 2017, the African Development Bank commitment $265m to help develop two solar power plants, Noorm I and Noorm II.
Green of Africa is an independent power producer and a joint venture between three Moroccan groups, namely FinanceCom, Akwa Group and AMHAL.
