Solar power in Morocco's desert: Bold vision, mixed results
Key takeaways
- A massive solar tower in the Moroccan desert is the beacon of an ambitious push for a clean energy future.
- Ouarzazate is probably best known for the Atlas Film Studios, where blockbusters from "The Mummy" to "Gladiator" and "Game of Thrones" have been filmed.
- Near the city, lying on a high plateau hemmed by the Atlas Mountains, one of the world's largest solar power plants is being built.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
A massive solar tower in the Moroccan desert is the beacon of an ambitious push for a clean energy future. But fossil fuels and grid constraints stand in the way.
https://p.dw.com/p/56Jl KMorocco's massive Noor concentrated solar power project is one of the region's largest renewable energy installations Image: Xinhua/SEPCO III/picture alliance Advertisement The Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Marrakech, lies on the edge of the Sahara and is known as the "door to the desert."
Ouarzazate is probably best known for the Atlas Film Studios, where blockbusters from "The Mummy" to "Gladiator" and "Game of Thrones" have been filmed. But a new industry is taking shape.