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Morocco bets on solar power
A new concentrated solar plant in Morocco will be the world's largest when completed. It could produce enough energy to power over one million homes by 2018 -- lowering carbon emissions by an estimated 760,000 tons per year.
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The construction of the plant cost $765 million and is expected to have a capacity to generate 160 MW.
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Solar mirrors at the Noor 1 concentrated solar power plant outside the central Moroccan town of Ouarzazate slowly follow the sun as it moves across the sky during the day.
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On the edge of the Sahara desert the sea of metal mirrors capture the sun's rays and use it to heat a liquid which, when mixed with water reaches 400 degrees Celsius.
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The steam produced from this process drives a turbine and generates electrical power.
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Moroccan King Mohammed VI inaugurated the plant on 4 February 2016. He talks here with the French minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Segolene Royal.
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The complex, opened in February 2016, is the first of several phases. Morocco is investing heavily in renewable energy to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels.
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The plant uses concentrated solar power technology which is more expensive to install than photovoltaic panels, but able to store energy for nights and cloudy days.
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Morocco's environment minister Hakima El Haite walks in front of a solar array in 2015 that is part of the Noor 1 solar power plant, which opened in February 2016.
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Even at night, the plant will be able to provide energy, thanks to the power of salt. A cylinder full of salt is melted by the warmth from the mirrors, and stays hot enough when the sun goes down to provide up to three hours of power.
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This plant is expected to increase the share of renewable energy in total electricity generation from 13% to 42%.