A bold new project aiming to establish the world’s longest subsea power cable linking Morocco and the United Kingdom is calling for critical political support to move forward. The ambitious initiative, spearheaded by Xlinks First Ltd., has the potential to attract up to £24 billion ($29.9 billion) in investments, with an estimated £5 billion allocated for the UK.
The project would harness Morocco’s vast renewable energy resources, particularly wind and solar power, to provide a sustainable and reliable source of green electricity for the UK. With the UK’s renewable energy sector expanding rapidly, this subsea cable would provide crucial support to meet the country’s growing electricity demands.
According to Dave Lewis, Chairman of Xlinks and former CEO of Tesco, the project could generate enough power to supply 7 million homes, accounting for 8% of the UK’s current energy needs. The venture would also bring billions of pounds in foreign investment, lower wholesale energy prices, reduce carbon emissions, and tackle the Dunkelflaute challenge—periods of low energy production from renewables.
“This project offers a reliable, stable energy supply without requiring government funding, while helping both countries move closer to their clean energy goals,” said Lewis in a recent interview. He added that the initiative is designed to address energy shortfalls and create an enduring solution to the UK’s energy needs.
Xlinks has begun talks with the UK government to secure a contract for power sales at a fixed price. The company is seeking a pricing agreement above that of offshore wind farms, yet lower than the contract for the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in 2016. The project’s timeline aims for completion by 2031, aligning with the UK’s 2030 deadline for a clean energy grid. However, the project’s progress has faced delays, exacerbated by the political changes following last year’s election.
The project will involve the construction of 11.5 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity in Morocco, paired with battery storage to ensure a stable energy supply. The electricity will be transmitted across a 4,000-kilometer (2,485.5-mile) subsea cable network, passing through Portugal, Spain, and France, before crossing the English Channel and connecting to the UK’s power grid in Devon.
Global energy giants have already thrown their weight behind the project. Major investors include GE Vernova Inc., which committed $10.2 million to Xlinks in 2024, alongside TotalEnergies SE, Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., and Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest retail energy supplier.
With growing support and a clear path toward implementation, the Xlinks project is poised to play a transformative role in the shift toward renewable energy in both Morocco and the UK, setting a precedent for future cross-border energy collaborations in Africa and beyond.