The first phase of the world’s largest solar power plant has come online in Morocco.

The Noor Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is located in the Souss-Massa-Drâa area in Morocco, about 6 miles from Ouarzazate town.

The plant, which was recently inaugurated by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, will provide clean electricity for more than one million people, helping Morocco reach its goal of generating 42% of the country’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 and 52% by 2030.

Currently, the Noor CSP can generate 160 megawatts (MW). But as additional phases are completed, in two years it’s expected to generate more than 500MW.

Phase 2 (Noor 2 and 3 plants) are due to open in 2017 and 2018 and will store power for up to eight hours. In all, the Noor CSP plant will cover an area of 6 178 acres.

“This launch means more and cleaner energy for Morocco, but also potentially for Africa,” says former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward M. Gabriel.

“Let’s not forget that just three years ago, President Obama launched Power Africa to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of Africans. Morocco’s commitment to renewable energy is yet another example of how Morocco and the US share a common vision for the region.”

At full power, the new solar power plant will reduce carbon emissions by 760,000 tons per year, which would equate to 17.5 million tons of carbon emissions over 25 years, according to Climate Investment Funds.