Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate III concentrated solar power plant has temporarily suspended operations as it enters a key phase of a technical upgrade aimed at strengthening the facility’s thermal energy storage system, Le360 has learned from a source familiar with the project.
The planned shutdown forms part of a remediation program being carried out by the project company under the supervision of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN).
The centerpiece of the operation is the installation of a new hot molten salt storage tank built to meet the latest international engineering standards, with the objective of improving the plant’s reliability and overall performance.
Since returning to service on April 5, 2025, following repairs to its original storage tank, Noor Ouarzazate III has operated under a “conservative” operating mode. That transitional phase allowed electricity generation to continue while preparations for integrating the replacement storage system progressed.
Construction of the new storage tank has now been completed, while the supporting infrastructure required to connect it to the plant is nearing completion.
Connecting the new system requires a carefully managed shutdown involving mechanical and electrical integration, the gradual heating of the molten salt circuits, and a series of cold and hot commissioning tests before operations can resume.
Specialized engineering experts are assisting operational teams throughout the process to ensure the work is completed safely and according to technical requirements.
Once commissioned, the upgraded storage system is expected to enhance Noor Ouarzazate III’s operational performance and reinforce its contribution to Morocco’s renewable energy mix.
The Noor complex near Ouarzazate is one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power developments and forms a central pillar of Morocco’s strategy to expand renewable energy generation while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
