Ouarzazate Solar Power Station
Ouarzazate Solar Power Station (OSPS), also called Noor Power Station (نور, Arabic for light) is a solar power complex and auxiliary diesel fuel system located in the Drâa-Tafilalet region in Morocco, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Ouarzazate town, in Ghessat rural council area. At 510 MW, it is the world's largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. With an additional 72 MW photovoltaic system the entire project was planned to produce 582 MW. The total project's estimated cost is around $9 billion.
| Ouarzazate Solar Power Station | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Location | Ouarzazate |
| Coordinates | 31°02′57″N 6°52′10″W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | May 2013 |
| Commission date | February 2016 |
| Construction cost | $9 billion |
| Owner(s) | |
| Cooling source | El Mansour Eddahbi Dam/Reservoir |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity |
|
| Annual net output | 370 GWh (Noor I) 600 GWh (Noor II) 500 GWh (Noor III) |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
The auxiliary diesel fuel system is used to maintain the minimal temperatures of the heat transfer fluid during times when the sun does not shine (including at night), to start the startup and synchronize the turbine to the electrical grid, and other auxiliary functions.
The plant is able to store solar energy in the form of heated molten salt, allowing for production of electricity into the night. Phase 1 comes with a full-load molten salt storage capacity of three hours. Noor II, commissioned in 2018, and Noor III, commissioned in January 2019, store energy for up to eight hours. It will cover an area of 2,500 hectares (6,178 acres).