Saudi's Acwa Power to develop 170 MW of solar PV in Morocco
Riyadh-based Acwa Power will develop 170 MW of solar PV plants in Morocco at €0.0422 ($0.044) per kWh, following the signing of a power purchase agreement in November, said Masen, Morocco’s public agency for renewable energies. The deal covers the Noor PV 1 programme, comprising a 70 MW PV plant in Ouarzazate, an 80 MW project in Laayoune and a 20 MW plant in Boujdour. Masen added it was also awaiting tender results for the first phase of the Noor Midelt solar complex, which will include two hybrid PV and CSP power plant projects with storage.
pv magazine previously reported that in November Morocco’s public agency for the renewable energies, Masen, signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Acwa Power for the development of 170 MW of solar PV plants.

The new capacity regards the Noor PV 1 program, that consists of a 70 MW photovoltaic plant located in Ouarzazate, a 80 MW plant located in Laayoune and a 20 MW plant located in Boujdour.

Masen told pv magazine that “the combined kilowatt hour (kWh) rate of the three projects making up the Noor PV 1 program (with an aggregate capacity of about 170 MW) is 0.46 dirhams (€0.042).”

Morocco does not have a feed-in tariff yet.

Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power was selected after an international tender to develop, build and operate the three plants under a BOOT (Build, Operate, Own and Transfer) scheme.

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Masen has also confirmed that “the three PV plants should be transferred to Masen (not to the ONEE which is the national utility) at the end of the power purchase agreement.” This is 20 years after the date of commissioning the plants, which is expected in early 2018.

Meanwhile, the PV sector is awaiting the results of the tender concerning the first phase of the Noor Midelt solar complex (‘Noor Midelt Phase 1 Projects’).

Masen has previously told pv magazine that “this phase would cover two hybrid PV and CSP power plant projects with storage. The CSP gross capacity is expected to be between 150 MW and 190 MW for each project. The PV capacity is to be proposed by developers based on request for proposal (RfP) requirements.