Powering Europe: Morocco's Renewable Energy Exports And The Xlinks Setback

Already Connected To Europe

Morocco is the only African country physically linked to the European electricity grid, via submarine interconnectors across the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and northern Morocco. This long-standing link allows two-way power flows and gives Morocco a head start in electricity trade with the continent.

The strategic value of that connection was underlined in April 2025, when Morocco reportedly supplied Spain with electricity at short notice during a large blackout on the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrating the practical benefits of cross-border links.

The Xlinks Ambition And Its Halt

The most ambitious proposal was Xlinks, a plan to build vast solar, wind and battery capacity in southern Morocco and ship the power to Britain via a roughly 4,000-kilometre subsea cable, which would have been the world's longest. It promised to supply a meaningful share of UK electricity.

In June 2025 the UK government declined to back the project, with ministers arguing domestic generation offered better value, leaving the developer to seek alternative support and pause associated plans such as a Scottish cable factory. The setback showed how exposed mega-projects are to political and regulatory shifts.

Pivoting Toward The Continent

With the UK route stalled, attention has shifted toward the European mainland. New interconnectors with Spain and Portugal are planned, including additional capacity links targeted for around 2030, alongside a proposed HVDC connection to Portugal, deepening Morocco's integration with the Iberian and wider European market.

A Sustainable Electricity Trade roadmap involving Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France and Germany aims to facilitate cross-border renewable power trade. Xlinks itself has reportedly explored European alternatives, including the idea of a link toward Germany.

Renewables As The Foundation

Underpinning all of this is Morocco's domestic renewables build-out, with a target to raise the share of renewables and hydropower in its electricity mix toward roughly half by 2030 and to expand installed clean capacity substantially. Exports only make sense if generation grows faster than domestic demand.

The Xlinks episode is a reminder that exporting electricity depends as much on partner-country policy as on Moroccan resources. But with existing links to Europe, new interconnectors planned and a regional trade framework forming, electricity export remains a credible, if uncertain, plank of Morocco's 2030 economy.

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