The African Development Bank (AfDB) on 7 December approved a loan of $265m for phase I and II of the Noor Midelt (NoorM) solar project, which is envisaged to ultimately deliver 800MW from concentrated solar power (CSP) and PV hybrid plants. The two phases are expected to cost a more than €2bn to develop, according to the AfDB, and form part of the massive Noor solar energy programme.
NoorM will be developed on a public-private partnership basis with the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen). Following the initiation of a tender in August 2016 for two 150-190MW combined CSP and PV projects, five bidding groups were shortlisted in June 2017; Acwa Power Consortium, EDF Energies Nouvelles Consortium, Engie Consortium, Innogy SE Consortium and JGC Consortium. The successful bidder will form a special purpose vehicle to design, build, undertake operation and maintenance of the plant, and finance the project.
Other donors for the project include the World Bank Group, who have committed $400m through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Clean Technology Fund with $50m; $200m from the European Investment Bank and European Commission; the French government and Agence Française de Développement €150m; and Germany’s KfW $750m. In July 2017, the Climate Investment Funds’ Clean Technology Fund approved a $25m loan for phase I. The solar plants are expected to provide electricity to more than 2m Moroccans.
