Solar industry has been changed a lot during last year in MENA region. Thanks to the dispatchable power produced by CSP, more countries in MENA region are considering to place solar thermal technology in their future energy system.
 

Picture: Overview of the three Noor CSP plants

Morocco NOOR Ouarzazate & NOOR Midelt Solar Complex

In order to get rid of energy dependence on importing, Morocco government is accelerating its renewable energy ambition, saying by 2020, power produced by renewables may increase to 42%, and more than 50% by 2030. Currently, the world’s biggest NOOR Ouarzazate Solar Complex has witnessed the rapid development of CSP in this country. NOORo I project, a 160 MW parabolic trough (PT) plant was in operation since 2016, another 200 MW PT plant---NOORo II---and a 150 MW Solar Tower plant---NOORo III---are close to completion, and both are expected to be commissioned soon this year. Besides, NOOR Midelt, a hybrid solar PV and CSP complex is under development, it is said that at least 150 MW CSP will be deployed for each project. 3 consortiums, ACWA, ENGIE and EDF are competing for the contract.

DEWA 700 MW CSP plant (100 MW Tower, 3*200 MW PT)

Last year, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced their plan for solar projects to generate 1,000 MW in Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park by 2030. Together with its PV strategy, the first phase 700 MW CSP plant (100 MW Tower, 3*200 MW PT) shocked the industry by not only its big size but also the low bidding price of USD 7.3 Cents/kWh, offered by Saudi Arabia ACWA & China Shanghai Electric consortium. The project is under preparation and is said to meet financial close by April of 2018. 

And Abu Dhabi, neighbor of Dubai, has also shown CSP’s availability in 2013 by Shams One project---the first commercial CSP plant in MENA region.

Saudi Arabia is reducing powerful influence of petroleum and gas. REPDO (Renewable Energy Project Development Office) is established within the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and serves to deliver renewable energy across the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030. 

Kuwait is constructing 50 MW Shagaya CSP plant to accelerate its renewable target. Oman has successfully launched the world’s largest CSP EOR project, indicating another potential market in MENA region. Other countries like Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Tunisia…are showing their positive attitude towards CSP and other sustainable energy.

Obviously, MENA region is showing its great potential to be the next “super star” for CSP development in coming years. To create a perfect platform for getting known of more future project updates and future deployments, and excavating more business opportunities in MENA CSP industry, CSP Focus MENA 2018, the only series CSP conference in MENA, will be scheduled on June. 27-28 in Morocco. Registration for the event is open now, would you like to share your experience and expertise as speaker? Promote and showcase your product and expertise as exhibitor or sponsor? Or join the gathering as audience? Just click here to get the event brochure and let CSP Focus about your thoughts.