A proposed subsea link between Great Britain and Morocco has been labelled as “nationally significant”, ultimately placing approval in the hands of the government.
Proposed by private energy firm Xlinks, the roughly £20 billion project would connect the UK to wind and solar farms in the Sahara Desert, capable of powering up to seven million homes.
“This is a major milestone for our project, which provides certainty and clarity over the legal process and timescales for consenting the project,” Xlinks boss Simon Morrish said in a statement.
“The decision reflects the real difference that our project can make to the country’s climate commitments and energy security.”
Being classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project effectively means final approval will be placed in the hands of net zero secretary Claire Coutinho, rather than local authorities in the southwest, where the cable reaches the UK.
Further consultation will take place next year, Xlinks said, ahead of an application being sent to the government.
Permission is still required to run the cable through Spanish and French waters however, according to Xlinks, while further funding will have to be sourced.
Estimations place the cost of the link between £20 billion and £22 billion pound, Xlink chair Dave Lewis told the Financial Times.
Coutinho, who classed the project as significant, commented that the plan was important since it could help wean the UK off polluting fossil fuels.