Morocco Turns On What Will Become World’s Largest Solar Field

The clean energy revolution isn’t limited to Florida, or even the United States. In fact, solar energy has been thriving in Europe and around the world for years. Now, Morocco has proven itself to be one of the most solar savvy countries in the world, by turning on a solar grid with the capability of generating up to 160 megawatts.

Though the grid, dubbed Noor I, is currently not the world’s largest, it is still among the top producing grids out there, with curved solar panels numbering 500,000 in total. Not only is each panel 40 feet tall in height, but they also utilize the hot, desert temperatures to maximize efficiency. Morocco receives more than 3,000 hours of sunlight per year, which means solar potential is through the roof. At the end of the day, the project is due to reach millions throughout the nation, but Noor I is only phase one of three.

Expansions dubbed Noor II and Noor III are well on their way, with more panels and a total of 6,000 acres expected to be covered. The project is expected to be complete in 2018, boasting an astounding 580 megawatts of solar energy in its final form. The proximity to the Saharan Desert most certainly plays a role in the solar grids efficacy, but there is no denying the ingenuity at work here as well. It is particularly impressive given that, until Noor I, Morocco has been reliant on imported energy for 97% of their needs.

Morocco’s record-breaking solar grid has proven that clean energy is the future of energy generation as well as consumption, and solar is leading that fight. Florida can only hope to expand its solar energy policies in a direction that will allow solar to flourish just as well as it has in Morocco.