Comments on: Desertec Project Continues Moving Forward, Moroccan Government Signs New Agreement with Desertec Foundation

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:03:00 +0000

The existing line that brings power from Europe to Morocco can carry power back.

It’s the perfect place to start the North Africa solar connection.

By: Ronald Brak

Ronald Brak — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Currently Morocco is a net importer of electricity from Europe. A large increase in Moroccan solar capacity should change that. As for exporting large amounts of net electricity to Europe, well, time will tell if that’s viable. But the cost of the transmission infrastructure means it may not be able to compete with European PV plus storage.

By: Bill_Woods

Bill_Woods — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:44:00 +0000

“[Morocco has] already started construction on one of the major components of the proposed Desertec network, the gigantic 500MW Ouarzazate concentrated solar power plant.”

Not yet, though they’ve arranged financing.

… the country has awarded a US$1 billion solar project contract to a consortium led by the Saudi International Company for Water and Power (ACWA). The consortium, which will set up a 160 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, …
… Construction on the plant, which will be located near the southern city of Ouarzazate, will begin before the end of 2012, and will take two years.
…
The bids were evaluated on the basis of price per kilowatt/hour proposed, with the ACWA group offering US18c/kWh, some 27% less than the nearest competing bidder.

http://www.esi-africa.com/node/15480