Green energy, the engine of a strategic alliance between Morocco and the United Kingdom
The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project is set to create a groundbreaking renewable energy infrastructure, generating 11.5 GW of zero-carbon electricity through solar and wind power. The project will include a 22.5 GWh battery storage facility to ensure consistent energy supply, capable of delivering 3.6 GW of reliable power for over 19 hours daily. This initiative will connect Morocco's renewable energy generation directly to the UK via 4,000 km of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) undersea cables, making it one of the longest such connections globally. The project is expected to supply up to 8% of the UK's electricity needs, providing clean power to approximately 7 million homes. This strategic partnership not only enhances energy security for the UK but also positions Morocco as a key player in the global renewable energy landscape, leveraging its natural resources for sustainable development.
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Green energy, the engine of a strategic alliance between Morocco and the United Kingdom
Morocco is emerging as a major player in the global energy transition with one ambition: to have a 52% share of renewables in its energy mix by 2030. This aspiration is part of an overall strategy that attracts the attention of international investors, including the British. At the same time, the United Kingdom, in the search for sustainable solutions to its energy crisis, sees Morocco as a strategic partner.
At the heart of the collaboration between Morocco and the United Kingdom, the project is located at Xlinks, an initiative of the pharaohs orchestrated by Dave Lewis, former CEO of Tesco, the extent of which is truly amazing.
The goal? Transport in solar and wind energy, which is produced in the southern provinces of Morocco, including the region Tan-Tan, to the UK, via a submarine cable to an unprecedented length. Imagine 4000 kilometers of electrical cable underwater, winding through the abyss to directly connect Morocco to Devon, in the southwest of England. A true technological prowess, which, when complete, will provide you with 8% of the energy needs of the British, the equivalent of the power supply of nearly 9 million homes.
This project is as ambitious as it is, transcending the mere dimension of energy. It is part of a complex geopolitical context, with the cooperation of energy playing a catalytic role in strengthening bilateral ties between Morocco and the United Kingdom. Some observers perceive this partnership as a prelude to a formal recognition by London of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. The project Xlinks, by exploiting the energy potential of significant provinces in the South, contributes to their economic integration in the development of the Moroccan national, an integration that is intended to be exemplary and inclusive.
For the UK, it represents a pragmatic response to its energy crisis while cementing a lasting relationship with a stable and reliable partner in North Africa.
Morocco, already recognized for its pioneering initiatives in the field of green energy, including the complex solar Noor Ouarzazate, a true flagship technology, is stepping up its efforts to double its production capacity of renewable energy in its southern regions, from 1.3 gigawatts to 2.7 gigawatts by 2027, according to estimates from Bloomberg. This meteoric rise, as confirmed by the Global Energy Monitor, is a testament to the determination of Morocco to transform its natural potential as an engine of sustainable development and prosperity. The objective of 52% renewable energies, far from being utopian, appears more credible thanks to massive investments and governance notified.
For Dave Lewis and his team, Xlinks represents much more than just a technical challenge; it is an entrepreneurial adventure and the diplomatic service of the first order. Negotiating with British investors and energy authorities, they build a bridge between two nations, united by a common ambition: energy cooperation in the copy. Morocco, thanks to its expertise and its natural resources, is positioning itself as a key player to respond to the growing demand for green energy in Europe.
Beyond the purely energy-related aspects, this partnership promotes the strategic role of the southern provinces of Morocco. Their involvement is central to this project and could strengthen the position of Morocco on the international scene and encourage the United Kingdom to formally recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Such recognition, awaited with impatience by Rabat, would be seen as valuable support to the stability and economic development of this region.
By linking Tan-Tan in Devon, the submarine cable will not be a mere conduit of electricity; it will symbolize a strategic alliance deep between the two nations, united by a shared vision of innovation, sustainability, and mutual prosperity. Then, as the work progresses, the expectations are at their peak, not only for the impact of the colossal project but also for the prospects of diplomacy that it could open.
The future looks bright, and we may legitimately hope that this ambitious project will serve as a model for future international collaborations.
