Xlinks, a company in North Devon, England, is planning an ambitious renewable-energy project known as the Morocco-U.K. Power Project. By 2029, the company aims to connect the U.K. to a vast solar and wind energy complex in the Moroccan desert via two electric cables. This project, if successful, could supply up to 8% of the U.K.’s electricity needs and potentially serve as a model for a new global grid system.
The Morocco-U.K. Power Project involves installing 11.5 gigawatts of solar panels and wind turbines in Morocco’s Guelmim-Oued Noun region. Notably, the project is set to avoid building in contested territory in the Western Sahara. The energy generated will be stored in a 5-GW battery facility in Morocco and then transferred to Britain through two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables spanning 3,800 km. This length is unprecedented for HVDC cables, presenting significant engineering challenges.
Despite its complexity, the project has political support. Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water backs the plan, and the British government has designated it a nationally significant infrastructure project. The project is estimated to cost at least £20 billion, and as of now, the source of this funding is unclear.
The project faces several challenges, including its financial feasibility and the high cost of long-distance electricity transport. It also raises questions about the benefits for Morocco, as the country will not use any of the electricity generated by the project. There are concerns about the water usage for solar panel maintenance, given Morocco’s water scarcity issues, and the potential for local discontent, similar to the situation with the Noor Solar Complex in southeast Morocco.
If successful, Xlinks’s project could be a stepping stone toward a global renewable energy network. On a larger scale, other projects, like SunCable’s plan to deliver solar power from Australia to Singapore, are exploring similar intercontinental renewable energy initiatives. These projects could eventually contribute to a “global intergrid,” a comprehensive grid spanning oceans and connecting continents, although this vision still faces many technical, political, and financial hurdles.