Morocco's power export ambitions suffer a blow

June 29, 2025

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The British government has rejected the $34 billion Xlinks Morocco-UK power project, citing its misalignment with the government’s mission to build homegrown power solutions. Once touted as a project of “national significance” by the former UK government, its ambitious mission is now in limbo or worse, with $117 million already having been invested.

  • This project was one of the largest power initiatives ever planned between two countries. They sought to construct 11,500 MW of solar and wind power and 22,250 MWh of battery storage to supply calls million homes in the UK.

  • The cancellation calls into question the viability of mega power projects. Are they too complex and risky, especially when they involve cross borders and depend on long-term government commitments that can shift with changing political priorities?

  • Our take: Deals need to be structured in a way that ensures all benefit from construction… Read more (2 min)

Are subsidies necessary to achieve rural electrification? 

Namibia has introduced a $7.9 million electricity subsidy to boost national power access from 60% to 70% by 2030. Subsidies have useful in connecting rural populations in many African countries. But they also create a challenge around cost-reflective tariffs, scaring off private investors reluctant to compete with government-backed initiatives.

  • Namibia imports about 70% of its electricity, primarily from neighbouring countries such as South Africa. This reliance makes the country vulnerable to external price shifts, driving up electricity costs.

  • While subsidies can absorb additional costs and protect consumers from unexpected burdens, it stifles investment from independent power producers.

  • Our take: Subsidies risk distorting electricity market prices and may undermine renewables… Read more (2 min)

Almost half of the installed off-grid solar systems in East Africa become non-functional within a few years due to a lack of proper after-sales services. One enterprise in Rwanda is helping to revive such systems. Renewables Rising interviewed Ivan Asiimwe, founder and CEO of Enerbot, a company revamping broken off-grid solar systems in East Africa.

  • Ivan says a pro-local approach to addressing Africa’s energy crisis is necessary, rather than relying solely on foreign aid or companies. More important than this is the significance of energy, and even more crucial, the service and continued functionality of off-grid systems.

  • Besides his work at Enerbot, Ivan has over a decade of experience in renewable energy projects across Africa, including leadership roles at RTI International, Energy Action Partners, and ClearSky Power.

  • Click here for the full conversation… (2 min)

Africa Minigrid Developers Association and the UNDP representatives sign MoU to accelerate  sustainable minigrids across the continent in South Africa

Events

📆 Learn about accurate energy simulations with PVsyst (Jul 13)

📆 Join a webinar on South Africa’s renewable energy landscape (Jul 30)

📆 Attend the Solar Africa Tanzania 2025 event (Oct 10)

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🔋 Join Mulilo’s team as a Senior BESS Engineer (South Africa)

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🤝🏽 Genesis, Desert Technologies partner for Africa, MENA, Turkey solar & storage

🔌 Nigeria leads African nations in energy transition progress, WEF report reveals

💡 JinkoSolar shatters efficiency record with 27.02% N-Type TOPCon Solar Cell

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Riad Meddeb, Director at the UNDP, says, “To ensure the clean energy transition is also a just transition, we must adopt integrated system-level solutions.”