MASEN shortlists five consortia for the 800-MW Noor Midelt solar project
The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) has announced it has shortlisted five teams for the phase 1 of the 800 MW Noor Midelt solar power complex.
The consor officially pre-qualified are:
- ACWA Power Consortium: International Company for Water and Power Projects, General Electric Company
- EDF Energies Nouvelles Consortium: EDF Energies Nouvelles, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. PJSC – Masdar, Green of Africa, Sener Ingeneria Y Sistemas
- ENGIE Consortium: International Power S.A (Engie) , Nareva Holding S.A., SolarReserve LLC, Solaire Direct S.A.S
- Innogy SE Consortium: Innogy SE, Belectric GmbH , Ferrostaal Industrial Projects GmbH
- JGC Consortium: JGC Corporation, Abener Energia S.A
The tender process was launched In July, 2016. MASEN will shortly start the next stage of the tender process issuing the Request of Proposals (RFP) to the consortia.
The first phase of Noor Midelt is expected to consist of two concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) plants, each with a capacity of between 150 and 190 MW coupled with a minimum of 5 hours storage capacity. By design, about 3,000 hectares, some 25 kilometres to the northeast of Midelt, have been zoned for the installation of hybrid plants.
The project aims at combining the benefits of both technologies as CSP will help increase the load factor and reduce intermittency while PV will reduce upfront investment cost and the levelised cost of energy, compared to pure CSP solutions.
ACWA Power recently won the fourth phase of the solar power complex Noor Ouarzazate also in Morocco. Once the four phases are completed, the Ouarzazate complex will be the largest multi-technology solar power plant in the world with a capacity of 580 MW and a total investment of MAD24 billion (US$2.6 billion).
In the list below you can have further information about other solar projects in Morocco:
