UK-based renewable energy group Octopus Energy Group has announced a strategic partnership with Xlinks, which creates an interconnector between solar farms in Morocco and the UK. For the Morocco to UK power project, Xlinks is laying four 3,800km long submarine cables connecting renewable energy facilities in the Moroccan desert to Devon, UK. The site will have the capacity to supply the UK with 3.6GW of clean energy for an average of 20 hours a day, which will be enough to power nearly 7 million heat pumps throughout the year.

Simon Morrish, chief executive of Xlinks, said: "This partnership presents a huge opportunity to significantly reduce energy bills and help the UK achieve net zero emissions. This investment demonstrates that Xlinks and Octopus can provide the UK public with cheaper, cheaper Green power ambitions.”

The project is currently in the development phase and is undergoing an economic, environmental and archaeological impact assessment. It is planned to be put into use in 2027. Once commissioned, Xlinks is expected to provide electricity at £48/MWh, which is said to be comparable to offshore wind.

In addition, the Morocco to UK power project is expected to diversify the UK’s supply routes and enhance the country’s energy security. Octopus and Xlinks are also exploring potential off-take options for Octopus and are considering an agreement to implement Kraken Flex, Octopus' proprietary technology platform. Keywords: engineering construction, engineering news

Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: "Going green will reduce the cost of energy in the UK. Moving away from volatile fossil fuels is important to help tackle climate change, and stratifying different green energy sources helps answer 'wind' The question of what do we do when we don’t blow. The renewable energy revolution is now accelerating at an unprecedented rate for the benefit of people and the planet.”Editor/XingWentao