The Economist | Michael Liebreich wants existing low-carbon technologies to be scaled up much faster
Clean energy expert Michael Leibreich writes for The Economist: Michael Liebreich wants existing low-carbon technologies to be scaled up much faster, noting the cost-saving, long-distance Morocco - UK Power Project.
The Telegraph | Why North Africa can help solve Britain’s energy crisis
Morocco's ambassador to the UK, Hakim Hajoui, explores the opportunities for North Africa and Britain in The Telegraph: Why North Africa can help solve Britain’s energy crisis, mentioning that the Xlinks Morocco - UK Power Project's impact on job creation and regional economies.
Fabienne Serfaty joins Board of Xlinks
Xlinks, the renewable energy business led by Simon Morrish and Sir Dave Lewis, today announced that Fabienne Serfaty has been appointed to its Board of Directors as Non-Executive Director, effective immediately.
“I am pleased to welcome Fabienne to the Board,” said Sir Dave Lewis, Xlinks Executive Chairman. “I look forward to working alongside her on delivering our first of a kind project, unlocking the potential of remote renewable energy generation and enabling markets with high energy demand to diversify their energy supply.”
Given a lifelong interest in systemic solutions to environmental and social challenges, Fabienne also serves as an angel investor to ventures in the sustainability or social inclusion spaces. In that context, she has been a Trustee to several NGOs in the UK, including Clientearth Environmental Lawyers, Ashoka Social Entrepreneurs and the Fredericks Foundation. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker on the topics of sustainability, impact investment and social entrepreneurship.
“Xlinks is a huge opportunity to deliver real impact and benefit for generations to come,” commented Ms. Serfaty. “The scale of the ambition ensures that we can deliver clean, reliable energy for a price that helps the UK consumer, at a time when increasing cost of living is impacting everyone.”
The Morocco – UK Power Project aims to provide low-cost, clean power to over 7 million British homes this decade. Once complete, the project will be capable of supplying 8 percent of Great Britain’s annual electricity needs.
Xlinks holds public consultation on ground-breaking renewable energy connection plan
Calls for local input in Devon to capture views on proposal to connect 3.6GW of low-cost, reliable, renewable power from Morocco to the GB electricity grid
Proposals are a vital part of the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, which aims to help lower consumer energy prices, enhance national energy security, and meet decarbonisation targets
Xlinks, a private renewable energy company headquartered in the UK, will this week begin a period of public consultation in Devon regarding its plans to connect 3.6GW of reliable renewable energy from Morocco to the GB electricity grid. The company is calling for local input to further shape its plans, minimise potential disruption during construction, and maximise benefit to the region.
A series of Public Information Days will be held to share with the Devon community proposals for 14.7km of underground High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cabling, from landfall at Cornborough, and construction of a HVDC to High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) converter station site to the southwest of the existing National Grid substation located between Gammaton and Alverdiscott.
Having worked with National Grid to identify the optimal location to connect to the GB electricity grid, Xlinks has developed its plans in line with the rural character of North Devon. All cables will be installed underground, with land reinstated to its previous use. There will be no permanent infrastructure above-ground along the route. Upon completion, the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project will be capable of meeting approximately 8% of Britain’s annual electricity demand, enough renewable energy to power over 7 million British homes.
The period of public consultation runs from Wednesday 23rd November 2022 until Wednesday 14th December 2022. All responses will be considered ahead of the submission of a full planning application to the Local Planning Authority in early 2023.
The Public Information Days are open to all and are being held on:
- Wednesday 23rd November 2022 from 12.30pm to 8.00pm at Huntshaw Parish Hall, Huntshaw, Devon, EX38 7HH
- Thursday 24th November 2022 from 12.30pm to 8.00pm at Caddsdown Business Support Centre, Caddsdown Industrial Park, Clovelly Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 3DX
All exhibition material will also be available to view online throughout the consultation period at www.xlinks.co/devon.
Nigel Williams, Project Director, HVDC Transmission, Xlinks said: "The need for a project like ours grows by the day. Amid rising volatility in international energy markets, it promises an exclusive and near-constant supply of reliable renewable energy, free from the environmental and weather constraints of UK-based generation.
“The proposed onshore works in Devon represent a vital part of the plan and we’re very much looking forward to discussing them. This consultation will help ensure we have the fullest understanding of how to minimise disruption during construction, and how we can be a good neighbour to the local community and the natural environment. We will also explore all opportunities to contribute to social and economic development in Devon.”
The Times | Xlinks Morocco project could throw Britain a renewable energy lifeline
The Times Energy Editor Emily Gosden provides a deep-dive into the merits of the Morocco - UK Power Project: Xlinks Morocco project could throw Britain a renewable energy lifeline.
Xlinks attracts new investor - Germany’s con|energy to invest in the Morocco - UK Power Project to deliver exclusive, affordable energy at scale
London, 14 November 2022
Xlinks attracts new investor - Germany’s con|energy to invest in the Morocco - UK Power Project to deliver exclusive, affordable energy at scale.
- con|energy, a Germany-based investor in the European energy industry, has made a multimillion pound investment in Xlinks’ Morocco-UK Power Project
- Xlinks Morocco is a 10 GW renewables project which will diversify and strengthen the UK’s energy supply within this decade
- Xlinks will lay the world’s longest HVDC subsea cables to provide 3.6 GW of green power to the UK for an average of 20 hours a day – enough to power about 8% of the country’s electricity needs
Xlinks and con|energy have entered into a financial and strategic partnership to collaborate on Xlinks’ plans to offer an exclusive supply of renewable energy to the UK from Morocco through four 3,800km subsea HVDC cables. con|energy has previously invested in companies such as Wayve and Chargepoint.
The Morocco-UK Power Project will be the world’s largest endeavour of its kind, utilising proven wind and solar technology to provide 3.6 GW of sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity to the UK for an average of 20 hours a day. Operational by the end of the decade, Xlinks will provide electricity for 7 million British homes every day.
Morocco has become an international renewable energy leader over the past 10 years, developing innovative wind and solar projects, with in-country expertise and a framework that fosters renewable energy investment. The Kingdom has its own ambitious renewable energy strategy and the ambition to become a green energy hub. The Xlinks’ Project will bring sizeable economic benefits to both countries involved, creating green energy and engineering jobs in both the UK and Morocco.
The Project is led by seasoned UK energy experts, engineers and entrepreneurs. Its executive chairman is Sir Dave Lewis, former CEO of Tesco and president of global personal care at Unilever. The founder and CEO is Simon Morrish, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Ground Control Ltd. The project Director is Nigel Williams who oversaw the installation of the world’s longest subsea interconnector, the North Sea Link.
Simon Morrish says: “We look forward to partnering with con|energy, who bring their sustainabilityled, solutions-driven approach to the energy world. We are particularly pleased to welcome their founder and CEO Roman Dudenhausen and his team to the Xlinks family of investors. Their investment in us demonstrates the growing confidence the markets and our industry have in the project and the benefits it will bring.”
Roman Dudenhausen adds: “Simon and I have known each other for a while and have had many discussions about this amazing project. It is bold, innovative, and sustainable, and we think represents a game changer on the way to European energy security from renewables. Needless to say, we are extremely happy to be a financial and strategic partner to Xlinks and its team. Further joint projects are already under discussion.”
With net-zero milestones fast approaching, the Project will provide an affordable, renewable, and secure source of energy for the UK that can be online quicker than any other project of this scale. Alongside the domestic generation outlined in the UK’s national energy security strategy, Xlinks is a key part of the solution to achieving British energy independence.
The Mail on Sunday | Ready for a blast of Saharan sunshine?
The Mail on Sunday's Mark Hookham and Brendan Carlin write about the energy cost-slashing potential of the Morocco - UK Power Project: Ready for a blast of Saharan sunshine?
WIRED | How to plug the UK into desert sunshine
In the latest article in WIRED by Charlie Metcalfe, Project Director Richard Hardy talks about the "affordable generation from wind and solar" that the Morocco - UK Power Project will provide in: The Wild Plan to Export Sun From the Sahara to the UK.
XLCC Project Director Alan Mathers covers the new cable manufacturing facility to be built in Hunterston, Scotland, and partnership with Ayrshire College to attract and train new talent for skilled positions.
Xlinks appoints WSP as technical advisor for >£1Bn HVDC converter tender process
After a detailed selection process, Xlinks has appointed leading engineering professional services consultancy WSP to provide technical advisory services for the tendering process for four HVDC converter stations and ancillary works for the Morocco-UK Power Project.
WSP will support the procurement process for converter stations in the UK and Morocco, UK grid connection works, connection to the generation assets in Morocco, and an interface between the converter stations and the HVDC cable systems in the UK and Morocco.
The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project is a multi-technology renewable energy project of approximately 10.5 GW of generation capacity to be constructed in Morocco, with a combination of solar and wind generation assets coupled with energy storage, connected exclusively to the UK through dedicated 3,800km HVDC sub-sea cables with a combined capacity of 3.6GW at the receiving end.
The generation assets in Morocco will enable Xlinks to maximise the use of the subsea transmission system and deliver a dedicated, near-constant source of flexible and predictable clean energy to Britain for an average of 20+ hours a day. Xlinks will provide up to 8% of Great Britain’s electricity needs.
Martin Croucher, Senior Project Manager – HVDC Converters, says:
“The HVDC converter stations are a vital part of accomplishing the Morocco-UK Power Project. We are delighted to have WSP on board as technical advisors to support the tender process.”
Ben Jones, Non Regulated T&D Construction Director, Energy at WSP, said:
“We’re delighted to support Xlinks on what is a truly significant opportunity for the UK to increase its use of renewable energy and move away from fossil fuel dependency. A project of this magnitude will require a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach and we’re excited to play an important part in its delivery.”
XLCC obtains planning approval to build UK’s first HVDC cable factory in North Ayrshire
On 29th June 2022, the North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for XLCC’s HVDC subsea cable manufacturing operations in Hunterston, Scotland.
Breaking ground in the coming months, the brownfield site will create a new UK industry to support global decarbonisation targets. Once fully operational, the facility will support 900 jobs in the area, with thousands more in the wider supply chain.
XLCC’s first order is for four 3,800km long cables to connect solar and wind renewable power generation in the Sahara to the UK for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project.
Project Director for XLCC, Alan Mathers, said:
“We look forward to delivering a factory of great local and international importance for HVDC subsea cable. The UK will be positioned as a world leader in the green economy, with the site at Hunterston playing a key role in connecting cheap, green energy from renewables projects around the world.
We would like to thank the local community for their support during the consultation process.”
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and Climate Change, said:
“Hunterston is a key strategic site and one which has enormous potential for the local and the wider economy.
Now that the planning process has been carried out, we look forward to welcoming XLCC to the area. We believe this can just be the start for Hunterston and we can continue providing high value jobs and new innovation capacity in the green, blue and circular economies to realise Hunterston’s national potential as a contributor to net zero.”
To support the recruitment drive in the local area, XLCC is working in partnership with Ayrshire College to increase the number of PEO (Performing Engineering Operations) courses available to prospective students across Ayr, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning campuses. Additional Course content will be provided by MarCable Consulting and will deliver cable manufacturing fundamentals.
Gavin Murray, Assistant Principal at Ayrshire College, commented:
“Working with XLCC to deliver our new courses provides students with the potential to put their studies to use in the local area. Following successful completion of the Ayrshire College course, there will be a guaranteed interview opportunity to train as an HVDC Jointer for XLCC.”
Sixty HVDC Jointers in total will be needed for the facility. Training will include two months in a specialist facility in Germany to develop base level skills, with return to Hunterston seeing further development through on the job training, working on test lengths of cable to produce certified HVDC joints ahead of full cable production.