First steps of the electricity connection cable between Morocco and the UK

The British company Xlinks has launched a tender for geophysical and geotechnical surveys along the route of the 3,800-kilometre undersea power cable linking Morocco and the UK, which will supply seven million British homes with renewable energy generated in the desert.

This high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable will connect a solar and wind energy complex that Xlinks plans to build in Guelmim in southern Morocco with the UK to supply electricity to the UK.

The studies requested by the British company aim to provide detailed information on the geological characteristics of the seabed along the route of the cable, which will pass through the seabed of Spain, Portugal and France.

The scientific mission, which will last 12 months, will also include a magnetometer scan of the seabed to detect possible unexploded ordnance. According to the tender, published on the delta-esourcing.com platform two days ago, the deadline for receiving bids is 22 February.

According to Xlinks' projections, the mega facility - which envisages a capacity of 10.5 gigawatts - will generate clean, low-cost power for more than seven million UK homes by 2030, and will be able to meet 8 % of the UK's electricity needs.

Moreover, in a Moroccan government report on public land to be dedicated in 2022 for investment, the state pledged to make available to Xlinks an area of 150,000 hectares in Guelmim to realise its project.

Last Tuesday, the Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced that Morocco will revise upwards its ambitious renewable energy plan to exceed the target of 52% of its energy production coming from clean energy by 2030.

The minister detailed that there are currently 61 projects underway with a total capacity of 4.6 gigawatts with a total investment of 53 billion dirhams (550 million euros).