An idea whose time has come?
I was fortunate to be one of Al Gore’s first UK Climate Ambassadors, promoting messages from 'An Inconvenient Truth’. The film was praised for the clear way it articulated the science of climate change but rightly criticised for being short of solutions. The one exception was the idea for a ‘Super Grid’, a system that would connect the abundance of renewable energy sources in Africa to energy-hungry European countries.
The concept had huge merits. Alongside the significant carbon savings, it would shift the global energy power dynamic of other states providing resources for African countries. Instead, African countries could act as renewable producers. This would reduce the influence of fossil fuel states and create greater energy security by diversifying supply. Despite these significant benefits, the idea never progressed. At the time the financial model didn’t stack up and the technology wasn’t sufficiently advanced. Has that now changed? An intriguing new UK-based business certainly thinks it has and has pulled together a high-quality team and some serious investment to test their assumption.
Fittingly, I got to hear about their plans at an evening reception in the Energy Control Room of Battersea Power Station. The decommissioned coal power station is one of the largest brick buildings in the world, designed with lavish Art Deco interiors. It has recently been revitalised as a shrine to modern day consumerism: full of shops, restaurants and inner-city apartments. The building encapsulates the foresight of the designers, who recognised the need for the power station and the requirement for significant levels of energy to meet the demands of modern living.
The presentation was from a company called Xlinks. Their plan is to run a 2,485 mile long underwater cable, connecting the UK with a renewable energy rich region of Morocco. Powered entirely by solar and wind and supported by a battery storage facility, the company believes that the project could ultimately supply 8% of the UK’s electricity needs. Crucially the company aims to provide a near constant source of flexible and predictable clean energy, complementing the renewable energy already generated in the UK. So why do they think this idea will work now? Their belief is based on five assumptions.
The finances have changed
The biggest change since the original concept was mooted is that there has been a significant shift in the cost model. The price of solar panels has decreased by an astonishing 99.9% and the price of batteries has also dropped considerably. These large-scale reductions transform the economics, making the idea more appealing to investors.
2. The technology has advanced and is proven
Unlike other potential solutions – such as carbon capture and storage – the technology for the Xlinks proposal is largely proven. It just hasn’t been brought together in such an ambitious manner and at such a large scale. Crucially, if it works the solution will address one of the biggest problems of renewable energy: consistency of supply.
3. Morocco is a valid partner country
Morocco has long recognised the opportunities that clean energy offers and is an emerging global renewables superpower with the world’s largest solar array. In addition to solar power, the country also has access to a reliable source of wind energy due to its geographical location. The government seems to be open to new investment and international collaboration, making it a good choice to test the concept.
4. The need is increasingly obvious
Unfortunately, many of the negative impacts of climate change highlighted in 'An Inconvenient Truth’ are becoming ever more apparent. Just in the last month, we have seen unprecedented flooding in China and Russia plus extreme heat in South-East Asia. This is threatening food security, disrupting supply chains and harming lives. On top of this environmental disruption, geo-political tensions are soaring, increasing anxiety about relying on energy from disruptive regimes.
5. They have created a great team
Although relatively new and small, Xlinks appears to have pulled together a highly impressive team. The team is led by Sir Dave Lewis, the former CEO of Tesco and is backed-up by leading experts in the renewable energy space. They clearly mean business.
Only time will tell whether these assumptions stack-up and the vision turns into reality, but it is brilliant to see such disruptive thinking and a focus on systemic change. I am sure Al Gore would approve.