Launched in November 2009, Morocco’s Noor Plan set out to build a minimum 2,000 MW of solar-based electricity capacity and cut the kingdom’s heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels. It is implemented by MASEN, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy.
Key takeaways
- By 2025, Morocco had accumulated 1,285 MW of utility-scale solar capacity (PV Magazine).
- Renewables reached 45.5% of installed capacity by mid-2025, with solar making up 16.9% of that renewable mix (PV Magazine).
- Construction started in March 2026 on Noor Atlas, a new 305 MW, six-plant solar program (PV Magazine).
- Morocco targets a 52% renewable energy share by 2030 (PV Magazine).
Noor Ouarzazate, the flagship complex
The plan’s first phase, the Noor Ouarzazate complex, was built roughly 10 km northeast of Ouarzazate in stages: NOORo I, a 160 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant with parabolic-trough mirrors, was commissioned in February 2016; NOORo II (200 MW, also parabolic-trough) and NOORo III (150 MW, tower technology) followed, adding storage capacity and technological diversification. Combined with a photovoltaic component, the complex reached roughly 580 MW of installed solar capacity.
Noor Atlas: the next phase
Morocco broke ground in March 2026 on Noor Atlas, a program of six solar plants totaling 305 MW at Ain Béni Mathar (Jerada), Boudnib (Errachidia), Bouanane (Figuig), Enjil (Boulemane), Tata, and Tan-Tan. MASEN and the national water and electricity utility ONEE signed the power purchase agreements, with MASEN managing operations and maintenance under an EPC framework. Commissioning is scheduled to begin in July 2027, with financing support from Germany’s KfW development bank, the European Investment Bank, and commercial financing from Bank of Africa (PV Magazine).
Why it matters
Reducing energy dependence protects the state budget and trade balance from fossil-fuel price swings, while building a domestic solar sector creates jobs and technical know-how. Spreading Noor Atlas across six regions, rather than concentrating capacity in one mega-site as with Ouarzazate, also extends the plan’s economic footprint into smaller, less industrialized provinces.
