UK Rejects £25bn Morocco-UK Xlinks Energy Project

The UK government, led by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, has rejected the £25 billion Xlinks project to import solar and wind power from Morocco to Britain via a 2,500-mile subsea cable. Xlinks, chaired by former Tesco CEO Sir Dave Lewis, had pledged to provide enough renewable energy for up to 9 million UK homes, covering around 8-10% of national electricity demand, at costs below new nuclear. Despite strong private investment from companies such as Total and Octopus, the government cited security concerns, delivery risks, and a preference for domestic renewables. The rejection came after lengthy discussions and despite prior designation as a project of national significance. Xlinks now plans to pursue power purchase agreements with private sector buyers, but the absence of government subsidy poses a significant challenge. The decision highlights the UK's current strategy to prioritize homegrown energy solutions for economic and security reasons.