Overview

• The government formally withdrew support for the £25 billion project to transmit solar and wind power from Morocco via a roughly 4,000 km subsea cable to Devon.
• Xlinks had planned seven solar farms and about 1,000 wind turbines in the Moroccan desert to send 3.6 gigawatts of electricity, meeting approximately 8% of UK demand.
• Energy officials pointed to a high level of inherent delivery and security risks as justification for cancelling the scheme.
• The company had secured over £100 million in development funding from investors including TotalEnergies, Octopus Energy and TAQA and projected costs of £70–£80 per megawatt-hour.
• Xlinks Board Chair Sir Dave Lewis said the firm will pursue alternative financing options to keep the project alive despite the loss of government backing.