Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd. (Orient Cable NBO) has officially joined the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, a groundbreaking renewable energy initiative delivering clean wind and solar power from Morocco to the United Kingdom.
On January 22, Orient Cable NBO invested £5 million in the Xlinks project, aligning with major global investors including Al Maqam Energy Holding, Octopus Energy, and TotalEnergies Renewables UK. This partnership accelerates progress toward a sustainable cross-continental energy network.
Orient Cable NBO also announced plans to acquire an 8.5% stake in XLCC for £10 million. XLCC is pioneering the U.K.’s first HVDC (High-Voltage Direct Current) cable factory in North Ayrshire, Scotland, which will produce 3,800 km of standardized 525 kV submarine cables for the Xlinks project.
The facility recently received a £9 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to boost development at its North Ayrshire site in Hunterston.
XLCC CEO Ian Douglas emphasized that the grant strengthens Scotland’s leadership in renewable energy. “Green energy is the future, and we want to empower Scotland to lead the transition,” he said.
Construction of the £1.4 billion Hunterston cable plant will begin this year, with production scheduled for 2026. The first order includes four 3,800-km-long HVDC cables for the Xlinks project. XLCC has also signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for future domestic energy projects.
