ACWA forces offline Moroccan CSP plant following leak

ACWA Power’s NOOR III Plant in Morocco Experiences Forced Outage Following Leak

March 25, 2024

Saudi Arabian energy developer ACWA Power has announced the forced outage of its NOOR III plant in Morocco following a leak in the hot molten salts tank. The 150 MW plant, located in the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex and featuring seven hours of molten salt thermal energy storage, is expected to be offline until November 2024.

ACWA Power was notified of the leak on Friday, and it has been determined that the issue relates to the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project. The company plans to repair the storage issue, which may involve building a new storage tank.

Key Details:

• ACWA Power’s NOOR III plant in Morocco is experiencing a forced outage due to a leak in the hot molten salts tank.
• The 150 MW plant, located in the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex, is expected to be offline until November 2024.
• The issue is related to the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project, and ACWA Power plans to repair the storage issue, potentially by building a new storage tank.

Significance for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The NOOR III plant plays a crucial role in providing clean and affordable energy to Morocco, contributing to the achievement of SDG 7.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The forced outage and subsequent repair of the NOOR III plant highlight the importance of investing in resilient and sustainable infrastructure, aligning with SDG 9.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action – The NOOR III plant’s reliance on solar energy and thermal energy storage demonstrates Morocco’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, supporting SDG 13.

ACWA Power holds a 75% stake in the NOOR III project, which began commercial operation at the end of 2018. The company estimates that the breakdown will cost approximately $47 million.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
   • Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure
   • Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets identified are:

• Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions one indicator that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
• Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road (implied)

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: pv-magazine.com

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