Energy Transition in the United Kingdom: Morocco at the Heart of New Ambitions

Under the leadership of the Labour Party, the United Kingdom is setting ambitious goals to become a clean energy superpower. With the creation of Great British Energy, the country is banking on the development of hydrogen, a sector in which Morocco plays a key role. A unique collaboration project is already underway, with Xlinks, connecting the two nations for a sustainable future.

Faced with challenges exacerbated by the global crisis and rising prices, the United Kingdom, under the leadership of the newly elected Labour Party, is seeking to transform its energy sector. A cornerstone of this vision is the creation of Great British Energy, a public company dedicated to clean energy, with a budget of £8.3 billion.

Morocco, thanks to its solar potential and its ambitious roadmap for green hydrogen, is positioning itself as a key partner, particularly through the Xlinks project. The Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer and Ed. Miliband, is making a point of making the United Kingdom a world leader in green energy.

The goal is to quadruple offshore wind energy, triple solar energy, and double onshore wind by 2030. This ambitious energy transition is based on an unprecedented legislative framework, the Energy Independence Act, which aims to strengthen the country’s security.

In addition, the development of a strategy around hydrogen and marine energies is at the heart of the project, with colossal investments in carbon capture and energy storage. The creation of Great British Energy, with an announced allocation of £8.3 billion, embodies this desire to free itself from fossil fuels and build a sustainable future. The massive investments in transition planned by the United Kingdom will generate thousands of jobs, particularly in Scotland, where the headquarters of Great British Energy will be established.

Morocco at the heart of these strategies

At the heart of this British revolution, Morocco occupies a central place, notably thanks to its ambitious strategy for green hydrogen. With its solar and wind potential, the Kingdom is seen as a model to follow in terms of renewables. Its roadmap for green hydrogen, unveiled in 2021, aims to position the country as a key player in the production and export of this energy. The Xlinks project is the perfect example.

Worth an estimated $16 billion, it symbolises the synergy between the two countries. It consists of a 3,800km submarine cable linking Moroccan solar and wind farms to the UK, enabling the delivery of 10.5GW of electricity. This would cover almost 8% of Britain’s needs by 2030, a key contribution to achieving the country’s climate targets.

This strategic partnership should not only strengthen the UK’s energy independence, but also significantly reduce its CO2 emissions. For several years now, Morocco has stood out for its ambitious renewable roadmap, aiming to reach 52% of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2030. This vision is perfectly aligned with the needs of the United Kingdom, particularly in terms of green hydrogen, one of the solutions envisaged for rapid decarbonization.

Indeed, Morocco benefits from unique natural conditions to produce this energy, thanks to its sunshine and wind potential. The Xlinks project embodies the synergy between the two nations. This titanic project aims to provide up to 8% of the United Kingdom’s electricity needs in solar and wind energy captured in the Moroccan desert, thus marking a crucial step for British energy independence.

Strengthened cooperation in energy transition

As part of this growing cooperation, an event was organized in Rabat by the Ministry of Energy Transition, in partnership with the British Embassy and the Council for Energy Transition. This meeting brought together Moroccan officials, international experts and strategic partners to discuss ways to accelerate the transition.

Zakaria Hachlaf, Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to increasing the use of renewables, particularly in the field of green hydrogen.

The discussions provided an opportunity to take stock of progress on the national roadmap and explore possible future collaborations with the United Kingdom. This event is in line with the commitments made at COP 26, when the United Kingdom and Morocco had already demonstrated their willingness to cooperate on large-scale projects.

This collaboration, driven by the Xlinks project, opens the way to new perspectives for both nations. While the United Kingdom aims to become a world leader in clean energy, Morocco is positioning itself as an essential hub for supplying northern countries with green hydrogen and other renewables.

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(Featured image by Drew Hays via Unsplash)

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First published in LES ECO.ma. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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