UK Government Reviews Solar-wind Interconnection Project Between UK And Morocco

The UK government is currently evaluating Xlinks' plans to build a 3,800 km long submarine cable that would connect a 10.5 GW wind-solar facility in Morocco to various locations in Wales and England. The UK authorities may eventually purchase power from them through a contract for difference scheme.

The UK Government has recently published its new energy strategy "Powering Britain - An Energy Security Plan", which aims to ensure the UK's energy independence.

For photovoltaics, the document sets a target of 70 GW of solar energy by 2035 and gives a range of access measures to support the deployment of rooftop PV and large-scale solar installations, but does not give specific information on financial support for the proposed target.

The document does briefly mention one of the most ambitious solar-powered projects ever undertaken on a global scale - a 10.5 GW wind-solar project in Morocco developed by British company Xlinks, which will be connected to the UK power system via a subsea cable.

The document says: "The government is interested in the Xlinks project. The proposed large-scale onshore wind, solar and battery power station in Morocco would supply electricity exclusively to the UK grid via a high voltage DC submarine cable. The government is considering (but not committing to) the feasibility and merits of the proposal to see if it can contribute to the UK's energy security."