The host of the global climate talks has emerged as a pioneer in renewables and funding. Until this year the Moroccan town of Ouarzazate was best known for its ancient-looking kasbah façades, used as an exotic backdrop in many Hollywood movies. But now it has a very 21st century landmark: the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. With 500,000 parabolic mirrors, the plant — Noor 1 — has a generating capacity of 160 megawatts — equivalent to that of a conventional single gas turbine power station. It is the first of three CSP plants at the site that will eventually be capable of generating more than 500MW at peak output.
FT 10th Nov 2016 read more »