Xlinks, a British green energy company, has started the second round of public consultations in Devon, England, regarding its plans to connect 3.6 GW of renewable energy from Morocco to the UK’s electricity grid.
The company is seeking planning permission for 14km of underground High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cabling and the construction of an HVDC to High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) converter station site. The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project aims to provide around 8% of Britain's annual electricity needs, powering over 7 million homes. During the consultation period, Xlinks is seeking local views on the project's proposed enhancements. The second consultation runs from 17 April to 31 May 2023. Xlinks has confirmed that all cables will be installed underground, and there will be no permanent infrastructure above ground along the route, with land reinstated to its previous use. Once operational, the project will cover approximately 8% of Britain’s annual electricity needs, and create 10,000 jobs in Morocco, including 2,000 permanent jobs.
The project comprises plans to build a 3,800-km submarine cable, the longest of its kind globally, and is currently managed by XLinks in collaboration with Saudi energy conglomerate ACWA Power. The cable will have the capacity to transfer 10.5 GW of green electricity produced in Morocco’s Guelmim-Oud Nour region. The cable will follow a route through shallow water along the coast of Morocco, crossing the territorial waters of Spain, Portugal, and France before reaching the UK. The project's budget is expected to reach $21.9 billion. Initial estimates indicate that the cable will be online by 2030, with the first cable scheduled to go online in early 2027 and the other three sub-cables set to start operations in 2029. Xlinks' Project Director, Nigel Williams, said that his company recognizes the need for local input to "help us shape our plans, minimize potential disruption during construction, and maximize benefit to the region."
Source: moroccoworldnews.com