Construction for the first phase of Morocco ’s Noor 1 power plant is draw close completion . Once complete in 2020 , the solar farm will be the largest of its sort in the populace . But even now , the plant life ’s half - million solar mirror are already visible from space .
There ’s no question thatsolar baron is the hereafter , an free energy trend that ’s fuel the developing of monolithic solar farms in such spot asCalifornia , China , and elsewhere . And where good to put these plants than in the desert — areas that feature muckle of cheer and huge expanses of country that are otherwise useless and inhospitable .
Morocco ’s up - and - come Noor 1 CSP plant is a prime example . The first phase of this saturated solar power plant life , which is being built in the Sahara Desert near the townsfolk of Ouarzazate , is almost finish .

The plant life is schedule to be switched on later this twelvemonth , at which time it will boast a superpower - generating capacity of 160 megawatt . Once the entire plant is built , it will be capable of produce 580 megawatts wee-wee it the largest solar concentrated solar power plant in the world . Once complete , it will deal an area of 2,500 hectares , or 6,178 Accho .
The plant , which is being built with the help of Spanish syndicate TSK - Acciona - Sener , can salt away solar vim in the form of het up molten salt . NASA ’s Earth Observatoryexplains :
saturated solar exponent plants expend the Sun ’s energy to heat piss and give rise steam that spins vigor - generating turbines . The system at Ouarzazate uses 12 - metre - marvelous parabolical mirrors to concentre energy onto a fluid - fill up pipeline . The pipeline ’s hot fluid—393 degrees Celsius ( 739 degrees Fahrenheit)—is the high temperature source used to warm the water and make steam . The plant does n’t stop delivering energy at nighttime or when clouds obliterate the sun ; heat from the fluid can be stored in a storage tank of liquified Strategic Arms Limitation Talks .

The industrial plant was in the first place intended to supply baron to Europe via cable through the Strait of Gibraltar . Butafter several central European partner pulled out , the African Development Bank and the Maroc political science come to the rescue . The plant is now anticipate to meet internal Moroccan energy demand , which is expect to resurrect in the coming geezerhood .
[ NASA Earth Observatory ]
EnergyScienceSolar powerTechnology

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