Xlinks: The project to export green electricity from Morocco to the United Kingdom put on hold

The "Morocco - UK Power" project, led since 2019 by the British company Xlinks, aimed to connect southern Morocco to the United Kingdom via a 3,800-kilometer undersea cable to deliver renewable electricity. With an estimated cost of £25 billion, this megaproject sought to produce solar and wind energy over an area covering more than 1,500 square miles in the Tan-Tan province. This clean energy was intended to supply nearly 7 million British homes, or about 8% of the UK's annual demand, at a price estimated between £70 and £80 per megawatt-hour, according to Xlinks’ projections, though this price lacked official validation at this stage. 

Since its launch, the project attracted interest from major investors such as Octopus Energy Generation, TAQA, TotalEnergies, and GE Vernova. In 2023, it was granted the status of a "nationally significant project" by the UK government. Significant technical progress had been made, including signing 3.6 GW connection agreements with the UK's National Grid operator, defining a 14-kilometer underground cable route, and completing preliminary technical studies for the undersea cable. In Morocco, agreements were also signed to secure land and connect to the local grid. 

However, in June 2025, the UK government announced its withdrawal of financial support for the project, notably refusing to sign a 25-year "Contract for Difference" (CfD), which would have guaranteed a fixed electricity price. This reversal, motivated by budgetary constraints, technical risks related to the project's complexity, and a strategic shift toward more local energy solutions, led Xlinks to formally withdraw its application for authorization from UK authorities in early July 2025. 

Despite this setback, the UK reaffirms its commitment to strengthen its partnership with Morocco, while Xlinks, retaining Moroccan support, seeks to unlock the project's potential by revising its approach and exploring alternative financing and contractual mechanisms.