The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, the government agency established to realize the country’s solar ambitions, laid the base for the Noor-Ouarzazate complex, which accelerated the commercial adoption of large-scale solar installations in Morocco and elsewhere. Reuniwatt is proud to serve the most efficient use of solar technology by providing solar irradiance forecasts for MASEN.
The World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Plant
Ouarzazate is located along the world’s solar belt. The first phase of Morocco’s impressive Noor-Ouarzazate complex was launched in 2016, and consequently expanded with Noor 2 (parabolic through), Noor 3 (solar power tower) and Noor 4 (PV). The project served as a reference for low-carbon and climate-friendly technologies to make a breakthrough in the entire region.
Today, the solar complex is producing environmentally friendly electrical energy for at least 1 million households in Morocco. Compared to conventional electricity generation, more than 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year can be avoided, while the electricity generated helped the country to meet its own energy demand and reduce fossil fuel imports. Morocco is committed to raise the share of renewables in its energy mix to 42% by 2021, and 52% by 2030.
Despite the excellent solar availability in Morocco, the massive use of renewable energy systems on a national level requires advanced forecasting techniques for the for safe integration of that renewable energy into the grid. In order to use solar energy to reliably meet the electricity demand, natural fluctuations in solar irradiance levels and the consequent variability in the energy generated must be considered. Masen has selected Reuniwatt for the provision of a dedicated weather forecasting service for the anticipation of the generated energy:
Reuniwatt’s all-sky-imager Sky Cam Vision provides highly accurate local irradiance data. In combination with Reuniwatt’s forecasting services InstaCast™/HourCast™/DayCast™™, our solar forecasts enable grid managers to mitigate the challenges of solar variability of mega-projects such as Morocco’s Noor-Ouarzazate complex.
To learn more about this application of Reuniwatt’s forecasting services, download the flagship project brochure now:
• Reuniwatt specialises in solar forecasting as well as in solar irradiance and power assessment. It provides solutions and technologies to massively and securely inject photovoltaics into the grid.
• Reuniwatt develops solutions destined to key solar energy players: project developers, plant and grid operators, monitoring and asset management solution vendors, energy traders.
• The company has won many grants, including H2020’s SME Phase 1 programme, which makes Reuniwatt a European Champion regarding innovation.
• Reuniwatt has also been selected among the national fast-growing companies to join the prestigious French Tech 120 programme in January 2020.
• Reuniwatt has offices in Reunion Island (HQ), Paris and Toulouse.
About Masen (https://www.masen.ma/en/)
• The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) (formerly Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy) is a public-private venture focusing on the development of renewable energy projects in Morocco and internationally.
• Masen leads development programmes of renewable energy projects aimed at creating an additional 3,000 MW of clean electricity generation capacity by 2020 and a further 6,000 MW by 2030.
• Amongst Masen’s missions are the integrated development of renewable energy installations and the development of a national expertise in the field of renewable energy in Morocco. The local development strategy helps the regions that host its projects to achieve territorial equity and sustainable growth.
• Masen has a strong R&D strategy and has been actively promoting competitive technologies, such as thermal storage for CSP technologies.