Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, Britain’s Octopus join Morocco-UK energy link

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Britain’s Octopus Energy Group have joined the Morocco-UK subsea energy interconnection project led by Xlinks.

The two companies have invested 30 million pounds ($37.3 million). TAQA invested 25 million pounds and Octopus 5 billion, Xlinks said.

“The huge potential of the Morocco – UK Power Project will help the UK accelerate its transition to clean sources of power, increase energy security and reduce consumer bills,” Xlinks CEO Simon Morrish said in a statement.

The project has the support of the Moroccan government which has facilitated its setting up in the region of Guelmim, south of the country.

Interest grew in the project after it featured for the first time in the UK’s energy security strategy earlier this month, dubbed Powering Up Britain.

“The Government is interested in the Xlinks project, a proposed large-scale onshore wind, solar and battery electricity generation site in Morocco that would exclusively supply power to the GB grid via high voltage direct current subsea cables,” reads the document.

The project aims at satisfying 8% of the UK’s energy needs with a capacity to power up to 7 million British households with clean energy.