Global case study: Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project

In September 2023, Xlinks, a UK-based energy start-up, applied for a development consent order (DCO) from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This DCO application is currently under consideration, with the project currently in its pre-examination phase. If successful, this allows for the onshore UK infrastructure to facilitate a 10.5 Gigawatt (GW) solar and wind generation site in Morocco, along with a 5GW battery storage facility. If this electricity is transmitted to the UK as planned, it will be enough to supply 8% of Great Britain’s electricity demand, and account for 1/6 of the renewable energy needed to replace fossil fuel usage by 2050.

‍

Solar energy in the UK increases constraints on distribution networks during periods of high solar irradiance, whilst having many months producing little in the winter period. There are currently no commercially and technologically viable operational electricity storage technologies that enable electricity generated in summer to be stored until winter. Globally, more southerly geographies do not have the same seasonal variations, reducing the need for long-duration storage. This project, therefore, promises to reduce the intermittency of solar energy in the UK, and contribute to security of supply. This project is dispatchable, decreasing or increasing supply within less than seconds. This is necessary to balance the grid (with equal supply and demand) helping the UK avoid costs and emissions associated with other forms of grid balancing, such as Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs).

‍

Morocco is an optimal country for solar and wind supply. It has excellent solar irradiation resource potential, receiving more than twice the global horizontal irradiance of the UK, as well as strong winds from the meeting of ocean air and hot Saharan winds. The increased solar resource in Morocco results in solar PV panels generating approximately three times more power than in the UK, with a peak of up to 5 times the amount of power between January and May. Since days are longer in Morocco during winter, and there are high annual levels of solar irradiance, the daily and seasonal production profile of wind and solar fits well with the structure of UK power demand. Thus, the location of solar energy in regions closer to the equator results in a reliable and consistent supply of electricity to the UK. The renewable farm is planned to cover 1,500 km², approximately the size of Greater London, in the region of Guelmim-Oued Noun. The land here is unsuitable for agricultural purposes and sparsely populated, overcoming UK barriers to solar implementation where loss of agricultural land, impact on local wildlife, and aesthetics are common reasons for pushback.

‍

‍

This project involves building the world’s longest subsea cables at 3,800km, and is set to be completed by 2027. Xlinks has established a cable manufacturing company, XLCC, to supply these cables with factories in Port Talbot (Wales), Hunterston (Scotland), and Northeast England. These are all regions that have suffered from decline in industry: steel in Port Talbot; decommissioning nuclear power in Hunterston; and the closing of coal mines in the Northeast of England. This move to employment facilitating net zero is part of the necessary transition away from traditional forms of energy to new and innovative industries. This project will generate £17.3 billion in socioeconomic value in the UK over the next 25 years and inject £5 billion into the UK supply chain through procurement of materials.

‍

‍

This project, despite its aims to support the British and Moroccan economy, and UK energy supply, has received pushback. The 3,800km long undersea cables will come onshore by Abbotsham, a village in Devon. Despite three rounds of consultation with local people, there remains concern surrounding the impacts this will have due to the installation of 14km cabling underground connecting the sea to the substation in Devon. The cables pose not only environmental risks from increased noise, pollution, and turbidity, but also jurisdictional risks, with the cables crossing territorial waters of Portugal, Spain, and France. There have been several high-profile incidents regarding subsea cables, exposing the vulnerability of nations to deliberate damage. The lack of international governmental organisation responsible for submarine pipelines and cables, could increase the threat of militarisation of these cables. This project, despite its ability to further strengthen the UK-Morocco relationship, also raises concerns regarding UK energy reliance on foreign sources.  

In Morocco, this project will bring 2,000 full time jobs, as well as 10,000 jobs in green energy and engineering in the construction phase. This would have a significant impact on the region, as it is one of the least populated regions in the country. However, Morocco relies heavily on energy imports of coal for their own usage, with few sources of domestic energy, and currently there has been no information regarding whether Morocco will directly benefit from the electricity produced. This begs the question, is this a form of climate injustice? This mirrors historical patterns of resource extraction, where wealthy nations benefit from the resources of the Global South without both parties reaping the rewards. This project is UK-driven and invested in by UK and UAE-based companies. This project paves the way for more renewable infrastructure in Morocco and must be carried out to ensure mutual benefits.

‍

‍