PM's attitude to collaboration is encouraging for energy sector projects
Building towards a global grid requires the cooperation of nations whose energy strategies and ambitions complement each other.
It’s encouraging to see that Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer recognises this.
Last week, he said the closer collaboration between the UK and Ireland on subsea energy infrastructure is “testament to the importance of working with international partners to deliver for people at home".
“Now more than ever we must work with likeminded partners in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity and security,” he said.
This is exactly the mindset that is needed in the mission to reach net zero, and as part of the UK-led Global Clean Power Alliance launched by the Prime Minster, Morocco has been a strong trading partner of the UK for more than 200 years.
Over the last decade, Morocco has become an international leader in renewable energy, recognising the value of its abundant wind and solar resources.
The North African country has great ambition to export such renewable power to Europe.
Our Morocco – UK Power Project will realise this ambition, bringing significant benefits to both Morocco and the UK.
Much like the collaboration with Ireland, it will ‘deliver for the people at home’ by:
- Supplying enough clean electricity for 7 million households in Great Britain
- Reducing wholesale electricity prices by 9.3% in its first year of operation
- Creating c.1,000 new jobs
- Cutting power sector emissions by around 10% in its first year of operation
- Delivering more than £20bn in value to the UK
Cross-border infrastructure has never been more important as we strive for clean power.
Read The Guardian story in which the Prime Minister was quoted by clicking here.
Celebrating International Women's Day at Xlinks
At Xlinks, we believe that accelerating the transition to net zero goes hand in hand with driving greater inclusion in the energy sector.
Women are already driving innovation, solving complex challenges, and leading the way - from engineering to leadership, innovation to operations.
This International Women's Day, we celebrate the incredible women shaping the future of renewable energy – many of whom we are lucky to have as part of our team - and recognise the urgent need for action to close the gender gap in our industry.
Not just today, but every day, Xlinks is committed to building a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Ramadan Mubarak! Warmest wishes from the Xlinks team
As the holy month of Ramadan begins, we send our warmest wishes to our colleagues, partners, and friends observing this sacred time. May this month bring you peace, reflection, and joy.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Utility Week | A deep dive into the Morocco - UK Power Project
Xlinks and the Morocco - UK Power Project is the subject of Utility Week's latest deep dive article.
The piece comes after a lengthy interview between Project CEO James Humfrey and Insights Editor Tom Grimwood.
“We’ve run over two years of management measurement campaigns," James told Tom. "It is probably I think the longest measurement campaign in in the world, so we’ve got very good wind data et cetera, and we’ve been using that to design and optimise the generation site."
The article covers all aspects of the Morocco - UK Power Project, which is unsurprising, given its word count sits just below 1,200.
Read the full article by clicking here. Please note, it is behind a paywall.
InfraDig | Project CEO appears on renowned IJGlobal podcast
There is a familiar face on the latest episode of InfraDig.
James Humfrey, CEO of the Morocco - UK Power Project, has appeared on the highly regarded podcast from IJGlobal, which is all about infrastructure.
IJGlobal editorial director Angus Leslie Melville interviewed James on the Project, covering a wide range of topics, from financing to construction.
The episode runs for a little more than 22 minutes, and you can listen below. Alternatively, visit the IJGlobal podcast site by clicking here.
Xlinks founder gives talk to packed crowd at Marsh conference
Xlinks CEO and founder Simon Morrish spoke at the Marsh Energy Industry Conference last week.
His message was clear: the rise of mega projects, like the Morocco – UK Power Project, will play a vital role in developing the global grid.
Richard Hardy, our Project Director, was also in attendance and joined a panel discussion on the industry trends shaping the energy landscape worldwide.
Caption: Richard, first seated from the left, on the panel.
The event took place in Dubai and attracted more than 900 attendees who were keen to hear from speakers on the future of energy transformation.
For more information on the conference, please click here.
Will Hutton | Xlinks project "should be turbo-charged"
“The imaginative Xlinks project, proposing to pipe electricity from solar panels in Morocco to Britain, which could supply 8% of our electricity, should be turbo-charged.”
This line appeared in The Guardian over the weekend, in a column written by Will Hutton.
The same piece was absolutely right to state that ‘heading off the environmental crisis and growing the economy are not at odds, they are two sides of a coin’.
Our Morocco – UK Power Project is testament to that. It does not require Government investment and is ready to progress at pace.
We couldn’t agree more with Will and thank him for speaking on our Project.
Growth and carbon reduction ARE NOT mutually exclusive.
Read the full column, here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/09/promoting-green-growth-does-not-make-you-an-eco-nutter-its-the-only-way-forward
Bloomberg | Morocco - UK Power Project seeks political champions
Bloomberg has reported on Xlinks' latest plea to the UK government.
The article reads:
The company planning the world’s longest subsea power cable between the UK and Morocco says the project needs political support to become a reality.
Under the proposal, the Xlinks First Ltd. project would spur as much as £24 billion ($29.9 billion) of investment, with about £5 billion of that in the UK. The plea to unlock that spending comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves try to revive the British economy and deliver growth.
Drawing on plentiful supplies of wind and sunshine, the link would provide the UK with a reliable source of green power that would compliment the country’s growing fleet of turbines in the North Sea, said Dave Lewis, Xlinks’s chairman and the former chief executive officer of the UK’s biggest grocer Tesco Plc. The company is aiming for a final investment decision this year, financial close in 2026 and to start building before the end of next year.
“It offers enough stable, reliable and dedicated supply to power 7 million homes, or 8% of current electricity needs,” Lewis said in an interview. “It brings billions in inward investment. It helps reduce wholesale energy prices while cutting emissions. It also answers the Dunkelflaute challenge. All without the need for government investment. My view is: why wouldn’t you?”
Read the full story by clicking here, which will take you to the Bloomberg news website.
The Times | Xlinks founder is proud to be a part of renewables success story
The founder of Xlinks, Simon Morrish, is proud to be a part of the renewable energy success story.
He spoke to this in a recent column for The Times, also going into detail about our Morocco-UK Power Project.
The Project will bring solar and wind generated electricity from Morocco to the UK via undersea cables to give reliability and low cost dependency for the UK grid.
From the early 2030s, it will power seven million homes, cut carbon emissions by a further 10%, and reduce and stabilise wholesale UK energy prices – all while providing energy at peak times at a consistency similar to nuclear.
The Morocco - UK Power Project will be funded by the private sector, requiring no government investment.
You can read Simon's full article on the Financial Times website by clicking here.
Bloomberg | Xlinks Chair: Economic growth and Net Zero are not mutually exclusive
Economic growth and carbon emissions reduction are not mutually exclusive.
That was the message from Xlinks Chair, Sir Dave Lewis, when he spoke on Bloomberg’s Daybreak Europe radio show.
At this moment, there are UK clean energy projects that are ready to stand up and deliver significant inward investment, enable industrial development, create jobs, reduce wholesale energy prices, and slash emissions.
Our Morocco-UK Power Project is one such project.
Below is what Sir Dave had to say live on air.
The written article can be viewed by clicking here. Please note this is behind a paywall.