CSP World

Masen, the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy has disclosed the seven consortia pre-qualified for NOOR II and NOOR III, most widely known as Ouarzazate 2 and Ouarzazate 3 CSP plants.

The second phase of the Ouarzazate Concentrated Solar Power complex (NOOR II) will comprise a roughly 200 MW parabolic trough plant with thermal energy storage. Three consortia have been selected to submit a bid:

• Abengoa SA and Abengoa Solar
• International Company For Water and Power Projects (ACWA) and SENER Grupo De Ingeneria SA
• International Power SA (Dubaï branch of GDF Suez) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC/MASDAR

In the case of the third phase (NOOR III), the plant is expected to be a 100 MW power tower with energy storage. Four applicants have passed the pre-qualification process:

• Abengoa SA and Abengoa Solar;
• EDF SA, EDF Energies Nouvelles SA, Brightsource Energy Inc, Brookstone Partners Morocco SA, Alstom Power System SA and Mitsui & Co Ltd
• International Company For Water and Power Projects (ACWA) and SENER Ingeneria y Systemas
• International Power SA (Dubaï branch of GDF Suez), Solar Reserve LLC and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC/MASDAR.

The selected applicants will have to submit a bid for the Request for Proposal. Masen intends to launch the RFP for both projects early Q4 2013.

The Request for Qualification, as previously reported by CSP World, was launched last January with deadline March 18.

Key points of the RfQ

The deadline for submissions for this prequalification process is March 18, 2013 (10:00 am Moroccan time).

Lead member must have a net worth >$400 million ($600 million if applies for both projects)

For tower project

• Experience of 1.5 GW developed CSP (projects with a minimun cost of $200 million, from 2005 to date)
• At least one parabolic trough plant higher than 45 MW or one CSP plant (any kind) at least rated at 100 MW
• Tchnology provider: at least a 100 MW plant or at least a 2.5 MW tower plant

For parabolic trough project

• Experience of 1.5 GW developed CSP (projects with a minimun cost of $200 million, from 2005 to date)
• At least one parabolic trough plant of 45 MW or any other CSP plant of minimun 100 MW

The first phase is currently under construction by the winner consortia led by ACWA jointly with TSK and Aries. Ouarzazate 1 is a 160 MW parabolic trough plant with three hours of energy storage.