One African country is leading the way in the continent's solar power bid to become a regional energy hub and raise finances.
Morocco is spearheading the movement for solar energy in Africa (Image: GETTY-STOCK)
Africa is facing severe infrastructure challenges, and some countries are launching ambitious projects to attract investments. Some of these strategies are coming into play as soon as 2025.
One of Africa’s northernmost countries is Morocco, which is spearheading the movement for solar energy across the continent.
The country is progressing a landmark and hybrid solar power plant, named Noor Midelt solar complex, which aims to combine concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) technologies.
This will be built in the eastern town of Morocco, Midelt, and is expected to start up by the end of 2025.
The new mega-project is expected to cost a staggering $2.4bn (£1.8bn) with a capacity of 800MW to provide Africa with a major power boost.
New hybrid solar plant aiming to boost Morocco's economy (Image: Getty)
The solar complex is part of the North African country’s plan to grow its share of renewable energy to 52 percent in just five years time by 2030.
The project is also part of Morocco’s larger goal of becoming a regional energy hub. It hopes to be able to export clean electricity to neighbouring countries and eventually Europe.
Noor Midelt is owned and managed by the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), which has given contracts to consortia led by ACWA Power and EDF Renouvelables.
Atlas mountains in Midelt where the complex will be built (Image: Getty)
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The MASEN has so far received cruicial financing from various development partners such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the German Development Bank.
According to the African Development Bank, the continent needs to allocate up to $170bn (£130bn) annually to fill the infrastructure deficit. It’s currently battling against the billions in financial shortfall, preventing both the economic and social progression of Africa.
Other ambitious projects going on across the continent include Mozambique's hydropower project, which consists of a new 1,500-megawatt dam on the Zambezi river, a Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, Namibia's announced $9.4bn green hydrogen project and Tanzania's massive hydroelectric dam.
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