Morocco-UK Xlinks undersea power cable to generate 'real value': Octopus Energy

LONDON — The Xlinks project — the world’s longest interconnector undersea cable linking Morocco’s solar energy grid to Britain’s and going through French, Portuguese and Spanish waters — will generate “real value” for the North African country, CEO Greg Jackson of UK-based Octopus Energy said on Wednesday.

The project will use electricity generated in the Guelmim Oued Noun region of Morocco by a 10.5-gigawatt facility of solar and wind farms, supported by 20 GWh/5GW of battery storage. The southeast Guelmim Oued Noun region is in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

The electricity will connect to the UK’s power grid in Devon, southwest England, via four 3,800 kilometers of subsea high-voltage direct current cables, which will be manufactured in Britain.

Octopus Energy announced a £5 million ($6.8 million) investment into the Xlinks or “Morocco-UK Power Project” in May. A further £35 million was secured from Abu Dhabi National Energy Company.