The construction of the "Noor" solar complex continues in Ouarzazate. The stages of realisation of this ambitious and innovative project, which will make Morocco the leader in the field of green growth in Africa, are proceeding as planned. Spanning 3,000 hectares, the "Noor" solar complex is expected to reach a total production capacity of 500 megawatts. Once on site, one cannot help but be fascinated by the grandeur of the site, the quality of the technologies and materials used, the movements of the mirrors that orient themselves towards the sun… By 2015, the "Noor 1" power plant should already be operational. This one spreads over an area of 450 hectares and contains 7 platforms, two of which are almost ready. This first station should produce a capacity of 160 megawatts and will use concentrated solar thermal (CSP) technology with parabolic trough collectors with 3 hours of thermal storage at full power. The latter are currently in the testing phase. "The Noor project adopts an innovative technology in terms of renewable energies which consists of using plates equipped with tubes that conduct a heat transfer fluid, that is to say, which conducts heat that can reach 400 °C. Then, an exchange occurs between this fluid and the water which evaporates to turn the turbines that produce electrical energy," indicates a correspondent of the Moroccan Agency For Solar Energy (Masen) on the site. The latter insisted on the importance of water in the process of developing the solar power plant. Nevertheless, the "Noor 1" station, for example, will only consume 1% of the capacity of the Mansour Dahbi dam, which remains a small quantity. "It is important to point out that the passage between the 7 platforms is done in the direction of the descent (in the form of stairs), and this to stabilise the site and ensure the rainwater drainage system in order to channel it," stresses the Masen correspondent, who did not fail to specify that platform no. 4 of the "Noor 1" station is the most important. Named "Power Bloc", this platform is the heart of the power plant. It contains salt reservoirs. The latter allows heat to be stored and to have a battery in case of no sunshine.