- A major renewable energy project between Morocco and the UK could supply electricity to 9 million UK homes by 2030.
- While the project doesn’t require direct government investment, it does need long-term contracts to guarantee stable electricity prices.
A major renewable energy project between Morocco and the UK could supply electricity to 9 million UK homes by 2030, according to Dave Lewis, an executive at the company overseeing the project. The maritime power link, which would be the longest of its kind in the world, aims to transmit electricity from southern Morocco to the UK via a 4,000-kilometer undersea cable.
The undersea cable, connecting Tan-Tan in southern Morocco to the Devon coastline in the UK, would account for 8 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs, Lewis told The Guardian. Once completed, the project would provide the UK with reliable renewable energy for 19 hours a day, a major boost to the country’s energy security.
The project aligns with the UK’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 81 per cent by 2035. Lewis said the initiative represents a significant opportunity for both the UK and Morocco, but it is still awaiting approval from UK officials.
“We’ve been waiting for the green light for over a year,” said Lewis, adding that the project is considered a national strategic priority by the UK government.
While the project doesn’t require direct government investment, it does need long-term contracts to guarantee stable electricity prices. Lewis estimated the price at £70 to £80 per megawatt-hour, lower than current rates for nuclear energy deals such as the “Hinkley Point C” plant, which will supply power to 6 million UK homes.
International companies, including France’s Total Energy, Abu Dhabi’s national energy company, and the UK’s Octopus Energy, are backing the project. Hrik Gaskon, founder of Octopus Energy, said, “If oil and gas companies can build pipelines across the world to pump toxic materials, why shouldn’t we be able to build power lines? It should be easier.”
The project’s cost has risen to $30 billion due to pressures on global supply chains, but it remains one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy projects. If successful, the Morocco-UK power link could serve as a model for international collaboration in the transition to clean energy.