Prior Information Notice - RFI - Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project HVDC Transmission infrastructure 525kV

The procurement contact named on the official notice.

The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project is being developed by Xlinks First as the principal developer.

The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project is a multi-technology renewable energy project of circa 11 GW generated in Morocco with a combination of solar, wind and in-land power transmission, coupled with energy storage.

The electricity produced by the Moroccan generation facilities will be transported exclusively to Great Britain through dedicated 4,000 km HVDC onshore and offshore transmission infrastructure delivering 3.6GW, which will serve up to 8% of Great Britain’s electricity needs.

The HVDC system is comprised of two separate bi-poles, providing two separate connections in the UK.

The Project comprises four key elements: 1-Generation: covering all the generation assets (wind, solar, BESS) with their related civil and electrical works up to the HVDC converters in Morocco.

2-HVDC Converter Stations: in Morocco and the UK.

3-HVDC Onshore Transmission: covering onshore transmission in Morocco (underground cables and overhead line) and in the UK (underground cable).

4-HVDC Offshore Transmission: submarine HVDC cable between the Moroccan and UK landing points.

Xlinks First is in the process of finalising the contracting strategy for the Project.

This Prior Information Notice relates to the HVDC onshore and offshore transmission.

Potential suppliers for HVDC cable, HVDC overhead lines and related works are being invited to respond to a Request for Information, including an expression of interest for some or all of the Scope of Works for the transmission infrastructure.

These companies are requested to register in Delta eSourcing (via the link provided above) to access further information.

The HVDC system comprises two electrically separated bipoles, each with a 1.8GW connection to the UK grid.

The entire onshore and offshore transmission Scope of Works will encompass: A-Four offshore HVDC cables, each 3,800km long, will form the twin 1.8GW HVDC subsea cable systems that will follow the shallow water route from the Moroccan site to a grid location in Great Britain, passing through water of Spain, Portugal, and France waters. / B-Four onshore HVDC underground cables, each 15km long, will connect the HVDC subsea cable system to the twin 1.8GW HVDC Converters station in UK./ C-Two or four onshore HVDC cables.

An optional HVDC overhead line could replace two of the onshore HVDC cables, each approximately 150km long, will connect the 2 bi-pole HVDC Converters station in Morocco to the offshore HVDC Cable system./ Please note that a similar RFI is underway for the HVDC Converter Stations scope of works for Project.

Once Xlinks First has received responses from participants, Xlinks First may initiate further discussions with potential suppliers before finalising its procurement strategy.

Once the procurement strategy is confirmed, Xlinks First will proceed to launch the procurement events.