Morocco’s massive solar complex drives Africa’s renewable energy transformation

The Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, located around 200 kilometers southeast of Marrakech on the edge of the Sahara Desert, is undergoing a transformation from a cinematic landmark into a cornerstone of Africa’s renewable energy revolution.

Known as the “door to the desert,” Ouarzazate has long attracted international filmmakers, with its studios serving as the backdrop for major productions including The Mummy, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. Today, however, the city is gaining global attention for a different reason: the Noor solar complex, one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power facilities.

Situated on a high plateau surrounded by the Atlas Mountains, the solar plant that is appropriately named Noor — meaning “light” in Arabic — spans nearly 500 hectares and can generate enough electricity to supply more than one million homes. The complex consists of four solar power plants with a combined capacity of 580 megawatts.

The megaproject stands out not only for its massive size but also applies an unconventional approach to energy generation. Unlike traditional solar farms that rely on photovoltaic panels, Noor uses concentrated solar power technology, employing around 2 million large mirrors to direct sunlight toward a central receiver positioned atop a 247-meter tower.

According to site manager Mustapha Sellam, who spoke to the British Telegraph agency, the tower was the tallest structure in Africa when it was completed in 2017.

The concentrated sunlight heats molten salt to temperatures of around 600 degrees Celsius, producing steam that drives turbines and allows the plant to continue generating electricity for several hours after sunset.

The scale of the facility has made it one of the most recognizable renewable energy projects in the world. Reports suggest that the reflection from the mirrors and the central tower is visible from space, with astronauts and Earth-observation satellites able to capture its glow.

Spearheading Africa’s energy transition

However, Noor represents far more than an engineering spectacle. It is the centerpiece of Morocco’s ambitious renewable energy strategy, which aims to generate more than half of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade.

Developed in four phases, the complex has helped transform Morocco from a country heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels into one of Africa’s leading renewable energy investors.

After years of slow progress, experts say Africa is now entering a new era of solar expansion. The continent possesses some of the world’s best conditions for solar power generation, and hundreds of projects are already operating, under construction, or being planned.

The expansion comes at a time when nearly 600 million people across Africa still lack reliable access to electricity, making renewable energy development a potential driver of economic growth and improved living standards.

“Africa's solar revolution is here. Growth is spreading to new markets across the continent. Solar power is now a 24/7 energy source and a powerful engine for economic growth across Africa,” Sonia Dunlop, chief executive of the Global Solar Council, told the British outlet.

Morocco is also seeking to become an exporter of renewable energy. One proposed project, known as X-Links, aims to transmit solar and wind power generated in the Tan-Tan region near the disputed Western Sahara area to the United Kingdom through approximately 4,000 kilometers of subsea cables connected to the English coast in Devon.

The project is backed by a consortium of UK investors led by former Tesco chief executive Sir Dave Lewis but is still awaiting government approval.

If completed, X-Links could further position Morocco as a major player in the emerging global renewable energy market and demonstrate the potential for Africa’s solar resources to support energy needs far beyond the continent.

By Nazrin Sadigova