Morocco shows Africa's solar power potential

Africa has excellent solar insolation values throughout the almost entire continent, but not much has been done to harness this tremendous solar power potential.

Things will perhaps change in not so distant future with Morocco showing the way how to done things. Morocco is now the home to the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, Noor, CSP, that should, once fully operational, provide enough power for 1.1 million people, offsetting 760,000 tons of carbon emissions a year.

Morocco is pioneering large solar power projects in Africa, and this project could even  export renewable energy to European Union in years to come.

This project does not only mean more clean energy and less carbon emissions, it should also provide new jobs (around 1800 new jobs), enhance country's energy security and independence, and give other countries the right example to follow on.

This solar power plant will be able to store solar energy in form of heated molten salt, which allows electricity production even during the night, thus solving the solar energy intermittency issue.

The current capacity of Noor, CSP is approximately 160 MW. By the end of 2018 total capacity is expected to grow to more than 500 MW, providing enough power for 1.1 million people.

Morocco's progressing clean energy goal is to have 42% of its energy coming from renewable energy sources by 2020. This solar project will play the biggest role in achieving this goal.