Could The Morocco-UK Power Project Be Developed Into A Western Europe And Africa Interconnector?
This page on the Xlinks web site, describes the Morocco-UK Power Project, which is proposed to generate solar and wind power in Morocco and deliver it to the UK.
- The plan envisages 10.5 GW of electricity being generated.
- There will be a 5GW/20GWh battery in Morocco.
- They will export 3.6 GW of electricity to the UK for at least twenty hours per day.
- The electricity will be exported to the UK by an Interconnector that skirts to the West of Spain, Portugal and France.
- The interconnector will be 3,800 kilometres long.
I described the project in detail in Moroccan Solar-Plus-Wind To Be Linked To GB In ‘Ground-Breaking’ Xlinks Project.
This Google Map shows Western Europe And North Africa.
Note.
- The light blue of the Continental Shelf
- The darker blue of deeper water.
- The Southern end of the Morocco and the UK interconnector will at Guelmim Oued Noun in the South of Morocco, which is indicated by the red arrow.
- The UK end of the cable will be at Alverdiscott between Barnstaple and Bideford in North Devon.
- Southern Morocco and Algeria look to be mainly in the Sahara Desert.
If we look at the route of the cable, it connects a lot of possible renewable energy sources.
- Morocco – Solar and wind
- Spain – Solar and wind
- Portugal – Solar and wind
- France – Nuclear, tidal and wind
- UK – Nuclear and wind.
Could the UK and Morocco interconnector be developed into a bigger power project?
- Solar and wind power from Algeria could be added.
- Tidal power from a Severn Barrage could be added.
- Connections could be added to Gibraltar, the Irish Republic and Wales.
I believe that there could be a large amount of electricity developed on the Western costs of Europe and Africa.
An interconnector would move it to where it is needed.
Quinbrook To Build The UKs Largest Consented Solar + Battery Storage Project
The title of this post, is the same as that article on Financial Buzz.
This is the first paragraph.
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (“Quinbrook”), a specialist global investment manager focused exclusively on renewables, storage and grid support infrastructure investment, today announced that it has acquired a consented 350MW Solar + Battery storage project, located in Kent, UK (“Project Fortress”). Quinbrook expects to commence construction of the project in the first half of 2022.
I have also read about Quinbrook on their web site.
A section on the site is entitled Our Industry Pedigree, where this is said.
Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested over US$ 8.2 billion in energy infrastructure assets since the early 1990’s, representing over 19.5GW of power supply capacity. Our team brings an industrial perspective to investing in low carbon and renewables infrastructure.
Could companies like this be one of the keys to get more renewable power sources delivered?
How Clean Energy And Jobs Can Flow From Morocco to The UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
- The article has been written by Simon Morrish, who is the founder and CEO of Xlinks.
- The article is about his plans to build a 10.5 GW solar and wind power complex in Morocco and connect it to the UK, by an undersea power cable running up the coasts of Morocco, Spain, Portugal and France.
- This page on the Xlinks web site gives details of the project.
These are some points from the article.
Relationship With The Exchequer
He makes these points about the projects relationship with the Exchequer.
- The company will be a net contributor.
- The project will not require government subsidy of finance.
- Energy will be delivered under the Contract for Difference (CfD) price of £48/MWh.
- This compares with a CfD price of £92/MWh for Hinckley Point C.
Simon Morrish also claims they will be energised before Hinckley Point C.
That sounds good to me.
Finance
I wonder if at the CfD price quoted in the article, could this mean that this is a project that could be financed in the City of London or from a Sovereign Wealth Fund?
As Simon is confident the project can be completed before Hinckley Point C, I suspect that the finance might be in place, even if it hasn’t been signed off.
The 20GWh/5GW Battery
Simon says this about the battery.
Alongside the consistent output from its solar panels and wind turbines, a 20GWh/5GW battery facility will ensure power generated can be delivered every day, resulting in a dedicated, near-constant source of flexible and predictable renewable energy, designed to complement renewable energy generated in the UK.
In Moroccan Solar-Plus-Wind To Be Linked To GB In ‘Ground-Breaking’ Xlinks Project, I forecast that the battery would be from Highview Power, but given the delivery date before Hinckley Point C, I would suspect that Xlinks have a battery supplier in mind.
Employment Benefits
Simon says this about employment benefits.
Thousands of jobs will be created in Morocco and also at home.
If the project goes ahead, given its size, I don’t think many would disagree with that.
Simon also claims the project will create 1350 permanent jobs by 2024. Sites mentioned include Hunterston, Port Talbot and the North East of England.
Simon’s Conclusion
This is Simon’s conclusion about the project.
I love the idea of clean electricity flowing, all the way from Morocco to the UK. I hope it may inspire other ambitious renewable energy projects too — which, together, will provide clean, secure and stable energy, at affordable prices, for businesses and households to rely on and help to protect this special planet.
If you can, I suggest you read the full article on The Times.
Conclusion
The more I read about this project, the more I tilt towards it being feasble
Engineering is the science of the possible, whereas politics is dreads of the impossible.
Bio-Coal Trials Show Promise
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Engineer.
These were the first two paragraphs.
Norfolk’s Bure Valley Railway (BVR) has held an extensive trial of bio-coal as the heritage rail sector looks towards a carbon-free future.
The event, which took place in June, was the result of cooperation between members of the Advanced Steam Traction Trust (ASTT), Bure and the Heritage Railway Association.
It probably makes sense to experiment with steam locomotives and fuels that create less carbon dioxide emissions.
Network Rail And Vivarail Bring The Next-Generation Battery Train To COP26
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Network Rail.
These are the first two paragraphs.
Network Rail and Vivarail today announced that Vivarail’s next-generation battery train will be launched at COP26 and will run daily services throughout the international climate change conference.
This zero-emission train uses new batteries, developed by Vivarail, to combine maximum range with the ability to recharge quickly. The result is a train that can travel for up to 80 miles on battery power and recharge in only 10 minutes using Vivarail’s patented Fast Charge system.
That is an excellent range coupled with a fast turnround time.
How will other companies like CAF, Hitachi and Stadler respond?
If all battery-electric trains can reach this range, I don’t think we’ll need hydrogen for multiple units, but we will probably need it for freight and other locomotives.
The Anonymous Widower 