Europe’s energy landscape is poised for a significant conversion in the 2030s, with interconnectors playing a pivotal role in connecting the continent to abundant renewable energy sources in North Africa. Enterprising plans are underway to bolster existing links between European nations and forge new intercontinental connections, promising a more diverse and lasting energy future.
North Africa, particularly the “solar belt” region along the Mediterranean coast, boasts exceptional solar irradiance and a generation profile less susceptible to intermittency than Europe’s. This has attracted considerable investor interest, with analysis from Rystad energy indicating that proposed North Africa-to-Europe interconnectors could facilitate the transfer of energy from an notable 24 GW of generation capacity. While not all of these projects are guaranteed to materialize,the potential is undeniable.
The concept of interconnecting Africa and Europe is not entirely new. Currently,two high-voltage cables link Morocco with Spain,each capable of transmitting 700 MW of power. A third cable connecting the two nations is in development, and several longer, more ambitious projects are attracting substantial financial backing.
Nivedh Das Thaikoottathil,a senior analyst for renewables and power at Rystad Energy,highlighted three major projects: Xlinks,which aims to connect the United Kingdom and Morocco; the GREGY initiative,linking greece and Egypt; and Elmed,joining tunisia and Italy.
“These interconnectors stand out due to their progress in project development and financing,” Thaikoottathil told pv magazine. “Take Xlinks, for example. The estimated cost is between $27 billion and $30 billion,but they’ve already secured $110 million in investment. The majority of this funding will be allocated to surveying the planned cable route,” he explained.
While project developers have made strides in securing financing, bridging the gap between North Africa and Europe will require more than just capital. Thaikoottathil cautioned that the current global supply of high-voltage and extra-high voltage subsea cable sits at approximately 9,000 km per year. This falls short of the projected demand. Although announced manufacturing capacity in development could reach 16,000 km per year by 2030, Rystad Energy projects demand could soar to 75,000 km by then.
Overcoming this challenge would unlock significant potential for interconnectors to diversify European grids in the 2030s, reducing reliance on gas imports. “If you include Xlinks, GREGY, and Elmed-Tunita, the total capacity adds up to 7.2 GW,” said Thaikoottathil. “This would translate to over 50 TWh of electricity exported to Europe annually, assuming these interconnectors operate at maximum capacity. In terms of diversification, it’s a starting point because gas currently makes up at least one-third of the power mix in countries like the UK, Greece, and Italy, which would be receiving this power.”
Morocco currently stands as the sole African nation with operational interconnectors linking it to Europe. Two connections with Spain are already in operation, with a third on the horizon. An ambitious project with credible investors proposes a record-breaking link with Northern Europe.
Xlinks, if realized, would become the world’s largest interconnector. The plan involves running 4,000 km of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable from Morocco to the United Kingdom,harnessing Morocco’s abundant renewable energy potential. Progress has been made, with Xlinks securing grid connections for two 1.8 GW interconnectors with Britain’s electricity system operator. in Morocco, Xlinks plans to develop 7 GW of solar and 4.5 GW of wind capacity, complemented by a 22.5 GWh battery, according to Rystad Energy.
The project has attracted notable investors.In 2023, French utility Total Energies invested GBP 20 million ($26 million), with Octopus Energy and the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company also on board.
Dave Lewis, former CEO of UK supermarket giant Tesco, chairs the project. other key figures include vice chair Paddy Padmanathan, former president and CEO of Arabian developer ACWA Power, and CEO Simon Morrish.
Energization remains a long way off, but the potential of Xlinks and other interconnector projects to reshape Europe’s energy landscape is undeniable.
Two ambitious underwater power cable projects are making waves in the energy sector, promising to reshape the flow of electricity across continents. One project aims to link Morocco with the UK,while the other seeks to connect Tunisia with Italy. Both ventures face significant hurdles, but the potential rewards are substantial.
Xlinks, the company behind the Morocco-UK project, envisions a 3,800-kilometer cable stretching from the sun-drenched plains of Morocco to the shores of Devon, England. This ambitious undertaking would harness the power of Moroccan solar and wind farms, transmitting clean energy across the atlantic Ocean.
“We expect to submit our DCO application in November 2024,” a spokesperson for Xlinks told pv magazine.”Should the UK government accept the application, a lengthy examination period will follow.”
Securing planning permission is just the first step. Sourcing enough cable for such a massive project presents a major challenge. To address this, Xlinks has established a separate company, XLCC, dedicated to building a state-of-the-art HVDC subsea cable manufacturing plant in Scotland.
XLCC received planning consent in 2022 and has secured significant backing from the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB). “Our support for XLCC is intended to provide confidence to the market, crowding private investment into this sector to boost production capacity in an industry set to have a significant impact on the UK’s transition to net zero,” said John Flint, chief executive of the UKIB.
Meanwhile, the Elmed project, connecting Tunisia and Italy, has been in development for years. This 220-kilometer undersea cable aims to transmit 600 MW of power between cape Bon in Tunisia and Sicily. despite political and economic uncertainty in Tunisia,project developers remain optimistic about a 2028 completion date.
“The project is still in the bidding phase and procurement is being undertaken via a negotiated procedure under Italian law,” a spokesperson for the European Investment Bank (EIB), a major backer of the project, told pv magazine.
Both Tunisia and Italy are committed to seeing Elmed come to fruition. The project aligns with the European Union’s goal of diversifying its energy sources and reducing reliance on gas imports. for tunisia,Elmed represents a key component of its renewable energy strategy and a pathway to closer collaboration with the European Union.
“The Elmed project is ‘strategic’ for international relationships,” said Belhassen Chiboub, director general of electricity and the energy transition at Tunisia’s Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mines.
These ambitious underwater cable projects highlight the growing importance of international energy cooperation and the potential of renewable energy to reshape the global energy landscape.
Cyprus, the only EU member state without a connection to other European electricity networks, is poised to become a key player in the burgeoning Mediterranean energy market. Two ambitious undersea cable projects, the EuroAfrica Interconnector and the GREGY project, aim to link Cyprus to Egypt and Greece, respectively, promising to reshape the region’s energy landscape.
First conceived in 2017, the EuroAfrica Interconnector envisions a 2,000-kilometer network of undersea cables stretching from Egypt to cyprus and then to Crete. the project, initially slated for completion in 2023, has faced delays and is now projected to be operational by 2029.”The first stage has a reported investment cost of €2.5 billion and its current financial situation is not clear,” according to reports.
The project’s future remains uncertain, with reports suggesting that ongoing feasibility studies are being conducted in light of Egypt’s recent financial crisis and currency devaluation. Multiple attempts to reach the company behind the euroafrica Interconnector for an update have been unsuccessful.
For the European Union, the EuroAfrica Interconnector represents a strategic prospect to integrate Cyprus into the European electricity grid, reduce the island’s reliance on fossil fuels, and lower energy costs. For Egypt, the project aligns with its ambition to become a regional energy hub, leveraging its abundant sunshine to export solar power to Europe.
“The EuroAfrica interconnector is part of a strategy to position the country as a regional energy hub as well as taking advantage of its abundant sunshine by supplying energy to europe from large PV projects built in its vast deserts,” reports indicate.
neighboring Saudi Arabia is also eyeing a slice of the Mediterranean energy market. A 3 GW cable connecting saudi Arabia to the Egyptian grid is currently under construction, and feasibility studies are underway for a direct cable linking the Saudi and Greek grids.
Meanwhile, the GREGY project, a 3 GW interconnection between Greece and Egypt, is gaining momentum. The project, which would run along a route that circumvents the west coast of Crete, was included in the European Union’s draft list of “projects of mutual interest” in late 2023. Consultations to inform final studies commenced in early 2024.
Copelouzos Group, the developer behind GREGY, asserts that the interconnector will be powered by renewable energy plants it will construct and operate in egypt, with a total generation capacity of 9.5 GW.
These ambitious projects highlight the growing importance of renewable energy and cross-border energy cooperation in the Mediterranean region. As these interconnectors move forward, they promise to reshape the region’s energy landscape, fostering greater energy security, sustainability, and economic integration.
The success of these ventures hinges on overcoming financial and logistical challenges,navigating complex geopolitical dynamics,and ensuring the equitable distribution of benefits among participating nations.
A groundbreaking discovery in the field of archaeology has unearthed a trove of ancient artifacts in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The find, hailed as one of the most significant in recent decades, sheds new light on the complex history and refined culture of pre-Columbian civilizations in South America.
The excavation, led by a team of international researchers, uncovered a sprawling settlement dating back over 1,000 years.Among the remarkable discoveries are intricately carved pottery, ceremonial masks, and tools fashioned from obsidian and jade. “This site is rewriting our understanding of the Amazon’s past,” said Dr. Elena Ramirez, the led archaeologist on the project. “The level of artistry and technological advancement displayed in these artifacts is truly astounding.”
The discovery challenges long-held assumptions about the Amazon rainforest as a sparsely populated region before European contact. “We now no that complex societies thrived in this region for centuries,” Dr. Ramirez explained. “These peopel were skilled farmers, artisans, and traders, and their culture was far more advanced than previously thought.”
“The Amazon was not a pristine wilderness untouched by human hands,” she added. “It was a dynamic landscape shaped by the interactions of diverse cultures.”
The team is continuing to excavate the site, hoping to uncover further clues about the daily lives, beliefs, and social structures of the ancient inhabitants. The artifacts will be carefully preserved and studied, providing invaluable insights into the rich and often overlooked history of the Amazon.
This groundbreaking discovery promises to reshape our understanding of the Amazon rainforest and its place in the tapestry of human history.
This text provides a detailed overview of several ambitious underwater power cable projects currently in development across the Mediterranean region.
Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways:
**Major Projects:**
* **Xlinks (Morocco-UK):** This 3,800 km cable aims to transmit solar and wind power from Morocco to the UK,requiring a massive HVDC cable manufacturing plant (XLCC) being built in Scotland.
* **Elmed (Tunisia-Italy):** A 220 km cable aiming to transmit 600MW of power between Tunisia and Sicily. It’s backed by the european Investment Bank and is seen as a key component of Tunisia’s renewable energy strategy.
* **EuroAfrica Interconnector (Egypt-Cyprus-Crete):** This 2,000 km project aims to connect Egypt, Cyprus, and Crete, but faces delays and financial uncertainty due to Egypt’s economic situation.
* **GREGY (Greece-Egypt):** A 3 GW interconnection bypassing crete, included in the EU’s list of “projects of mutual interest.” It’s backed by Copelouzos Group who aims to power it with 9.5 GW of renewables in Egypt.
* **saudi Arabia-Egypt:** A 3 GW cable currently under construction connecting Saudi Arabia to Egypt, with feasibility studies for a direct Saudi-Greece connection underway.
**Key Themes:**
* **Renewable Energy:** Most projects aim to transmit solar and wind energy, highlighting the growing importance of renewables in the global energy mix.
* **International Cooperation:** These projects demonstrate the increasing need for international collaboration in energy infrastructure development.
* **Energy Security:** These interconnectors aim to diversify energy sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and enhance energy security for participating countries.
* **Economic Development:**
These projects bring potential economic benefits through job creation, infrastructure development, and foreign investment.
**Challenges:**
* **Financing:** Securing large-scale funding for these projects can be a significant challenge.
* **Technical Complexity:** Building and maintaining massive underwater cables presents technical complexities.
* **Political and Economic Uncertainty:** Political instability or economic downturns in participating countries can hinder project progress.
**overall:**
These ambitious underwater power cable projects highlight the transformative potential of renewable energy and international cooperation in reshaping the global energy landscape. They represent a significant step towards a more lasting and interconnected energy future.
