Morocco-UK power project: It is widely known by now, that in its scramble for clean energy the whole of Europe is turning to Africa or to North Africa to be precise. North Africa is where vast solar and wind farms are proliferating and there are plans for submarine cables that will carry electricity as far as Britain.
So now, imaging how times have changed! The former colonial powers are having to depend on Africa to satiate their energy needs.
This time it is Morocco that is going to power the Great Britain.
Morocco-UK power project link
The Abu-Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Britain’s Octopus energy group have reportedly joined the Morocco-UK subsea energy interconnection project led by Xlinks.
Xlinks has reportedly said that, the two companies have invested 30 million pounds ($37.3 million). While TAQA invested 25 million pounds and Octopus invested 5 billion in the project.
The Morocco-UK power project is expected to help the UK accelerate its transition to clean sources of power, increase energy security and reduce consumer bills.
After Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU imposed sanctions on Moscow however the sanctions backfired on Europe as Moscow stopped supplying gas to Europe.
The result is Europe has been facing an unprecedented energy crisis and is forced to look for gas supplies elsewhere to reduce dependence on Russia.
Read More: Why Morocco is suddenly the blue-eyed boy of the West
Part of its long-term response to ensuring its energy security is to accelerate a green energy transition. Now in its quest for green energy Europe including UK is looking to North Africa where solar panels generate up to three times more energy than in Europe.
Thus, now it has resulted in a rush to install giant solar energy farms and lay underwater cables to tap into North Africa’s abundant renewable energy.
The Morocco-UK power project is also one such example which will help carry solar and wind-generated electricity from the kingdom of Morocco to the United Kingdom.
The project has the support of the Moroccan government which has facilitated its setting up in the region of Guelmim, south of the country.
Read More: North Africa to West: keep your sanctions, we’ll take our oil from Russia
As per the report, the Morocco-UK power 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.
Solar and wind farms are already proliferating south of the Mediterranean. Their initial aim is to boost domestic power supplies and reduce reliance on coal.
Now these facilities are being lined up to supply green energy to Europe, through intercontinental submarine cables.
Now, with TAQA and Britain’s Octopus Energy Group joining the Morocco-UK power project the UK will have secured an alternative source for its energy needs and Morocco will be able to export its surplus renewable energy to the UK.
Since 1998 the UK has gone from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy. Now, the day has come when Morocco will power the UK and help the country to meet its target of achieving net-zero emissions in future.
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