By Caption: The solar plant in Morocco (BBC). A giant solar thermal plant to provide power to a Moroccan city at night will open next month, BBC reported. According to a report in BBC, the solar thermal plant at Ouarzazate will harness the Sun's warmth to melt salt, which will hold its heat to power a steam turbine in the ev
A giant solar thermal plant to provide power to a Moroccan city at night will open next month, BBC reported.
According to a report in BBC, the solar thermal plant at Ouarzazate will harness the Sun's warmth to melt salt, which will hold its heat to power a steam turbine in the evening.
The first phase will generate power for three hours after dark; the last stage aims to supply power 20 hours a day.
It is part of Morocco's pledge to get 42% of its electricity from renewables by 2020.
The UN has reportedly praised Morocco for the level of its ambition. The UK, a much richer country, is aiming for 30% by the same date.
The Saudi-built Ouarzazate solar thermal plant will be one of the world's biggest when it is complete. The mirrors will cover the same area as the country's capital, Rabat.
The developers say phase one of the futuristic complex will bring energy to a million people.
The complex stands on the edge of a gritty, flat, rust-red desert, with the snow-clad Atlas mountains towering to the North.
It is part of a vision from Morocco's King Mohammed VI to turn his country into a renewable energy powerhouse.
