A+ A-

Morocco seeks bright future in solar energy use

Morocco seeks bright future in solar energy use
Morocco seeks bright future in solar energy use

By Jamal Al-Nuwaif

OUARZAZATE, Morocco, Nov 4 (KUNA) -- Located in the Draa-Tafilalet region in Morocco, Ouarzazate city Solar Power Station reflects the Arab country's eagerness to harness solar energy to illuminate its future.
The station, also known as Noor Power Station, is a collaboration amongst companies from Saudi Arabia, China, and Spain in cooperation with the Moroccan authorities.
With the opening of the power station in October of this year, Morocco had fulfilled part of its regional and global obligations to reduce greenhouse emissions by 13 percent come 2020.
The construction on the station, which covers the mass of around 30 square kilometers, began in May of 2013 at a total cost of around USD 3.9 billion. It is located around 20 kilometers from Ouarzazate city east of the country.
The Noor I and Noor II stations provide around 360 Megawatts (MW) in total capacity, separately the Noor I provides 370 MW of electricity while Noor II provides 600 MW in annual outputs.
Noor III and Noor IV provide 150 and 80 MW respectively with the first having an annual output of 500 MW Morocco also plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 760,000 tons annually through the Quarzazate Solar Power Station, which will provide electricity to some one million housing units and infrastructure nearby.
Morocco also is eager save around 42 percent of the country's use of electricity and other energy resources by 2020 with plans to bring the number to around 52 percent in 2030. (end) jkn.gta