One of world’s largest power stations based on solar thermal technology is planned Noor in Morocco.
04 Feb 2016: In Morocco a consortium from Saudi Arabia and Spain are the general contractors and operators of one of world’s largest power stations, named “Noor” - said to be one of four plants to be build. The plant is based on solar thermal technology, which is – as often mentioned by us - far higher in efficiency as PV systems. In end of 2017 the plant aims to deliver current energy for 1,2 million humans, http://www.wiwo.de/technologie/umwelt/solarkraftwerk-ein-licht-in-marokkos-wueste/12916494.html. In general solar thermal heat is used for heating and cooling, in this article only producing of current is mentioned. In the future the King’s MASEN Authority in Morocco plans eventually to sell current energy to Europe. Such current selling business towards Germany or other European countries seems to me not to be a hit: We look for independency from conventional energy and from the grid and we have successful communities on this path. Further more nearly each day new and tested inventions in the field of Renewable Energies - one cheaper than the other - are unveiled!
The power plant “Noor” is financed (834 Mio. Euro, i.e. more than one third of the costs) by German KfW Bank and uses German products only. German solar thermal parabolic design mirrors in 400 rows heat thermo oil from SchottSolar in a pipe system in the mirrors up to 400 ֠ Celsius. This heat drives a conventional steam turbine from Siemens to produce current energy. Energy storage with liquid salt is from BASF. In Morocco now 1,800 persons can work on the plant for maintenance etc. There are other solar thermal systems – as installed in Doha - nearly free of maintenance – for me personally a better base for business development.
