Nur-MOH, a joint venture between Motor Oil Hellas and UK-based power producer Nur Energie, has been granted by the Greek regulatory agency an electricity generation license for a 38MW solar thermal plant on the Greek island of Crete.

The concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, which will feature BrightSource Energy’s LPT 550 solar technology system, is expected to produce enough energy for about 13,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 35,000 tons annually.

For Nur Energie, this is said to the first CSP plant to be licensed within a portfolio of solar development activities, including large scale solar power plants in North Africa.

BrightSource Energy president and CEO John Woolard said that this licensing agreement reflects growing recognition of power towers as the commercial solar thermal technology of choice for energy markets around the world.