More solar power on the way for Morocco: Six consortiums have been pre-qualified to establish the 400 MW solar plant Noor Midelt II in the Atlas Mountains, Moroccan renewable energy agency Masen said, according to Reuters. Among the companies in the six pre-qualified consortiums: Spain’s CobraServicios, Comunicaciones y Energia, Iberdrola, France's EDF Renewables, Italy's Enel Green Power, Belgium's International Power, and Saudi Arabia's Acwa Power.

About the project: Noor Midelt II is part of the Morocco’s second concentrated solar power (CSP) technology complex Noor Midelt, which consists of two solar plants combining thermosolar and PV technology to produce 800 MW of renewable energy with a storage capacity of five hours, according to Masen.

Some obstacles on the road: In 2019, Masen awarded a consortium led by EDF Renewables and UAE renewables giant Masdar the first phase of the project. The first phase is still not completed due to disagreements over concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, sources told Reuters.

SOUND SMART- CSP uses steam generated from heated water to produce electricity, and requires collector and generator systems. Its biggest advantage is that it can store power, helping to resolve the issue of peak energy demand, which is often at night or early in the morning when there is no sunlight. However, CSP is often more expensive and water-intensive than photovoltaic tech.

All under part of Morocco’s renewables push: Morocco has been pushing to position itself as a hub for renewable energy due to its major solar and wind capabilities. Morocco aims to have 50-52% of its energy come from renewables by 2030, up from the current 38%, the country’s prime minister said earlier this year.

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