The United Kingdom has officially designated an ambitious project to construct a subsea cable for transmitting renewable energy from Morocco as a matter of “national significance.” This designation is expected to streamline planning processes for the project.
Xlinks, a company led by former Tesco CEO Dave Lewis, is at the forefront of this endeavor. Their vision involves the construction of an extensive 3,800-kilometer (approximately 2361.21 miles) subsea cable network designed to supply solar and wind power generated in the Sahara Desert to as many as 7 million British households by the year 2030.
While Xlinks has welcomed the government's recognition of their project as a “major milestone,” they are well aware of the considerable challenges that lie ahead. Among these challenges are the need to build the world's longest high-voltage direct current subsea cable, securing additional funding, negotiating long-term pricing agreements, and obtaining permissions to lay cables through Spanish and French territorial waters.
The projected cost of this monumental undertaking falls within the range of £20 billion ($24.47 billion) to £22 billion, according to Dave Lewis in an interview with the Financial Times.
Xlinks has emphasized that the project has the potential to create nearly 10,000 jobs in Morocco, with 2,000 of these jobs becoming permanent positions. This aligns with Morocco's energy export strategy and underscores the economic benefits of the endeavor.
Claire Coutinho, the newly appointed UK energy security and net-zero minister, issued a statement acknowledging the national significance of the project. She highlighted its potential to contribute significantly to the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and achieving a secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply for consumers.
Under the “national significance” designation granted to the Xlinks cable project, the government will assume responsibility for approving the necessary infrastructure, bypassing the involvement of local authorities.
The project comes at a time when the UK's strategy to achieve its net-zero emissions target has faced scrutiny, particularly due to revisions in targets related to banning new petrol cars and criticisms regarding subsidies for domestic offshore wind farm developers. In contrast, the recent government approval of a major new North Sea oilfield development has also raised questions about energy security and environmental goals.
