NOORo III central tower solar thermal power plant in Ouarzazate (Morocco)

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NOORo III central tower solar thermal power plant in Ouarzazate (Morocco)

About

The 250m tower that provides power to Morocco

The NOORo III central tower solar thermal power plant with heliostats and salt receiver has a gross production capacity of 150 MW and a storage system with 7.5 hours of production. A key element of the plant is our high-power solar receiver, with more than 600 MW, located on the 250-meter-high tower. This is the same technology that we have successfully applied at Gemasolar in Seville (Spain). NOORo III, seven times the size, is the natural evolution of this pioneering facility, and includes advances such our HE54 heliostat, a larger heliostat designed and manufactured by Sener.

In addition to NOORo III, we are involved in the other two solar thermal phases of the project, NOORo I and NOORo II, also within the turnkey construction consortium. The three solar thermal power plants have a total capacity of 510 MWe. All of them are equipped with molten salt storage, which allows them to continue producing electricity in the absence of solar radiation. In fact, the highest energy demand in Morocco occurs at nightfall, so the integration of the facilities into the Moroccan electricity system will be the most efficient. Together they will avoid the emission of 470,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere per year.

Advantages

Avoids the emission of more than 130,000 tons of CO2 per year

Produces solar energy capable of satisfying up to 120,000 homes

Up to 7.5 hours of thermal storage capacity

Characteristics

High power solar receiver

Heliostats

Reflects sunlight back to the receiver located at the top of the tower

Double tank

One of cold salts and one of hot salts where energy is stored

Steam generator

The salts are cooled and generate high pressure steam to drive the turbine

Air condenser

Its use reduces tower water consumption by more than 80%

Applications and usage

NOORo III, the central power tower of Ouarzazate, was built as the third solar thermal phase of the project.

Supplying energy

The central tower operates as a solar thermal plant that meets the energy demand of more than 120,000 homes.

Sustainability

NOORo III avoids the emission of more than 130,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere per year.

Numbers

250 m

tower height

7.400

heliostats

150 MW

gross production capacity

1.3 M sqm

total reflective area

150 MWe

Turbine rated power

Energy

Dispatchability and Storage

Thermal Storage

NOORo III central tower solar thermal power plant in Ouarzazate (Morocco)

A solar thermal power plant that produces energy even without sunlight