Rise of intercontinental energy networks, Tunisian-European ELMED at forefront

African Manager

03-04-2025

Many countries worldwide already have interconnected energy infrastructure, leveraging their respective natural resources to enhance power capacity.
At the same time, numerous nations are pursuing an ecological transition by heavily investing in renewable energy development.
However, some regions have far greater renewable energy potential than others, highlighting the need for new energy-sharing networks.
There is enormous potential for cross-border and intercontinental energy sharing, which could accelerate the global green transition.
Yet, developing interconnected energy transmission grids remains complex due to varying regulatory standards and other challenges. Despite this, some regions are already advancing new networks to strengthen energy security in the coming decades.
Europe and Africa: A strategic energy partnership
Europe and Africa are beginning to forge energy links to expand access to clean power in regions where climatic conditions are less favorable for renewable generation.
Much of North Africa enjoys abundant year-round sunshine, making it ideal for large-scale solar farms. In contrast, Central and Northern Europe are less suited for such projects, prompting some European countries to explore ways of importing clean energy via undersea cables—a key focus in a recent Oil Price analysis.
Notable projects under development include:
– GREGY Initiative (Greece-Egypt): In the works since 2008, Greek firm Copelouzos has allocated €4.2 billion to build a bidirectional submarine cable capable of transferring 3 GW of electricity annually.
– ELMED-TUNITA (Tunisia-Italy): Italian grid operator Terna and Tunisia's state-owned STEG plan a 220-km undersea link across the Strait of Sicily, with a 600 MW capacity at depths of up to 800 meters.
Large-Scale solar and wind projects
Nivedh Das Thaikoottathil, Senior Renewable Energy Analyst at Rystad Energy, notes: 'North Africa's renewable potential aligns well with Europe's goal to reduce reliance on Russian natural gas. The region's geographic proximity makes it a prime location for buyer-seller partnerships, driving large-scale solar and wind projects—and submarine cables spanning the Mediterranean, even reaching the UK.'
The UK is advancing the Morocco-UK Power Project, spearheaded by Xlinks, which aims to supply millions of British homes with North African renewable energy via a 4,000-km submarine cable.
Xlinks plans to build a 1,500-square-mile solar, wind, and battery complex in Morocco's Tan-Tan province—where solar intensity is twice that of the UK—with operations expected in the 2030s. Morocco is already connected to Europe via two 700 MW high-voltage cables to Spain.
The Future of cross-border energy sharing
Several countries have begun discussions on cross-border or transcontinental energy links to facilitate clean power sharing.
While some short-distance projects are already operational, more ambitious long-distance ventures—with greater technical complexity—may take years to materialize.
Nevertheless, energy sharing will be critical for a global green transition, as some nations boast abundant renewable resources while others require significant investment to scale up green energy capacity.