Europe’s energy future could well be written from the Moroccan desert. Xlinks, an innovative project aiming to connect Morocco to the United Kingdom via an unprecedented underwater interconnection, is now being structured in Morocco with the creation of its local subsidiary, «Xlinks Morocco Development»indicates the daily Eco Inspirations in its edition of Monday, November 4.
«This entity marks a major step in realizing the ambition to provide renewable, clean and stable energy to the UK, by exploiting the vast solar and wind resources of southern Morocco», lit.
Xlinks Morocco Development benefits from a solid governance structure, led by key figures from the Moroccan and British sectors. At its head, Dayae Oudghiri Kaouach, who serves as president and CEO, alongside Robert Hamish McPherson, representing Xlinks Limited, the English parent company. In collaboration with board member Mohamed Sahri, this team brings varied and complementary expertise to manage the construction and commissioning of this ambitious project.
«The Mazars firm was appointed auditor to ensure the transparency and financial compliance of the company from its first years of activity. This choice guarantees the application of the strictest standards in accounting and management at each stage, thus strengthening the credibility of Xlinks Maroc at the local and international level.“, we can read.
This project is also supported by significant investments. TotalEnergies recently acquired a £20 million stake in Xlinks, joining other strategic investors such as Octopus Energy and the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA). This financial support demonstrates the solidity and potential of the project, meeting growing expectations for renewable energy on the European market.
The Xlinks project, now qualified “d’infrastructure d’importance nationale» by the United Kingdom, stands out for its scope and objectives. Located in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, a sunny and windy area of the Kingdom, this facility aims to produce up to 10.5 GW of green electricity. Thanks to a network of latest generation solar panels and wind turbines, this production is intended to cover around 8% of the United Kingdom’s electricity demand.
This project thus places Morocco in a strategic position, with the capacity to export clean energy on a large scale. To ensure safe and constant delivery of this energy, four high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables will be laid over a distance of 3,800 km, connecting the two countries across the Atlantic Ocean. This interconnection will be the longest of its kind in the world.
Par Walid Ayadi
03/11/2024 at 9:54 p.m.
