IJGlobal returns to Xlinks – the Morocco-UK power project – with this latest episode of Infra Dig, going back for an update on one of the most interesting transactions currently in play.

IJGlobal editorial director Angus Leslie Melville talks to James Humfrey who has been chief executive of Xlinks for the last year, since taking the role from founder Simon Morrish.  

This episode runs for a little more than 22 minutes with James telling all about a project that will go a long way to decarbonising the UK’s electricity supply.

This latest episode can be accessed on Spotify (embedded above) as well as through Apple Podcasts and on the Amazon service. It is also hosted across a slew of other platforms, open access on all of them.

Xlinks will supply 3.6GW of renewable energy that is generated in Morocco through solar PV plants and onshore wind farms, and transmit that through a sub-sea cable to power 7 million homes (8% of GB supply), reducing UK CO2 emissions by about 10% in the first year of operation.

James says: “You are talking about 11.5GW of renewable generation – about 7.5GW of solar and 4GW of wind – from a location in the Sahara through a 4,000km sub-sea cable which is similar in technology to the interconnectors that the UK has, and then comes on shore in the UK in Devon near Alverdiscott.”

He continues: “We have a wonderful selection of equity investors which includes TAQA from Abu Dhabi, Octopus, TotalEnergies, GE Vernova and AFC – and they have all invested in our various series of fundraisings.

“This provides great certainty in terms of equity and going all the way through to construction risk. That has been matched by excellent interest in terms of the debt and this project will be project financed as well."

James goes on to say that Xlinks have attracted a great deal of interest from ECAs and commercial lenders which, together with such strong equity backers, put it in a strong position to make this £22 to £24 billion project happen.

To hear all about this fascinating project, tune into the latest episode...