Rabat- ACWA POWER issued a clarification regarding the announcement made on March 24th concerning the closure of the Noor III solar power facility in Ouarzazate due to a leak in the molten salt tank.
ACWA POWER pointed out that final acceptance of the NOOR III plant has not yet been granted, and repair works have commenced for the existing hot salt tank, which experienced a leakage issue.
“Considering our commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring optimal performance, the project company, in addition to repairing the existing tank on a fast track to get the plant back on-line as soon as possible, had taken decisive steps to enhance the plant’s reliability and efficiency, even prior to the current outage,” stated the company in a press release.
ACWA POWER confirmed that these measures involve the construction of a new tank featuring an enhanced design to replace the repaired tank. This new tank incorporates the latest technology and benefits from insights gained from our experience with similar projects worldwide, utilizing the expertise of ACWA Power’s extensive fleet.
“We are confident that the enhancements being implemented at the NOOR III Project will further reinforce its position as a pioneering and reliable source of renewable energy in Morocco and beyond,” added the company.
On March 24, Acwa Power announced the closure of the Noor III solar power facility in Ouarzazate due to a leak in the molten salt tank.
The company acknowledged that this decision was prompted by the detection of a leak in the molten salt tank for the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project. The company stated that initial estimates of its losses amount to approximately $47 million.
The NOOR III plant is one of four plants comprising the NOOR Ouarzazate Complex, contributing approximately 25% of the total generation of the complex.
Known as the largest fully operational tower CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) project globally, NOOR III exceeded 420 GWh of annual generation in 2023.
This output is equivalent to meeting the energy demand of over 200 thousand households in Morocco and displacing 325,476 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the same year.
