A renewable energy firm is to consult residents in a tiny village in North Devon over its plans to connect the UK’s electricity grid with North Africa via the world’s longest undersea cable.
As part of Xlinks’ £16bn project, a proposed 3,800km of subsea cabling could connect Morocco's solar and wind energy-rich Guelmim Oued Noun region with Alverdiscott, near Barnstaple.
A new electricity generation facility, entirely powered by solar and wind energy combined with a battery storage facility, would cover about 1,500 sq km in Morocco and then be connected exclusively to Britain via four HVDC (high voltage direct current) sub-sea cables.
London-based Xlinks, which envisages the scheme could help power seven million British homes with “low-cost, reliable” energy by 2030, said it had worked with the National Grid to identify the “optimal” connection location.
The firm, which is backed by former Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis, said a series of public information events would be held in Devon on its plans starting this week.
Among the proposals are the installation of 14.7km of underground cabling from the coast at Cornborough. It will also look to build a new power conversion facility near an existing National Grid substation between Gammaton and Alverdiscott.
XMiles said there would be no permanent infrastructure above ground along the cable route, and that its proposals would all be in line with the “rural character” of the area.
Project director Nigel Williams said the need for the project “grows by the day”, amid rising volatility in international energy markets, which has been seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Williams said: “This consultation will help ensure we have the fullest understanding of how to minimise disruption during construction, and how we can be a good neighbour to the local community and the natural environment. We will also explore all opportunities to contribute to social and economic development in Devon.”
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