The British government's recent decision to halt the ambitious Morocco-UK Power Project, a 3,800-kilometer submarine cable designed to supply up to seven million homes with solar and wind power from the Sahara, marks a significant moment in the evolving geopolitics of renewable energy. Officially citing “better economic benefits” and a strategic priority on “building domestic capacity,” the move underscores a fundamental dilemma facing nations globally: whether to leverage the world’s cheapest energy from foreign territories with superior generation conditions or to cultivate national energy self-sufficiency.

This strategic pivot by the UK resonates with an ongoing debate in the global energy sector. The project, which aimed to deliver 3.6 GW of firm power via HVDC cables, was poised to be one of the world's longest intercontinental power links. Its shelving, despite the clear economic advantages of Moroccan solar resources, suggests a heightened emphasis on energy security and supply chain resilience, particularly in the wake of recent global energy market volatility. This contrasts with projects like the Australian Sun Cable, unveiled in 2019, which aims to export 10 GW of solar power and 20-30 GWh of battery storage via a 4,300 km HVDC cable to meet a fifth of Singapore’s electricity demand, demonstrating a continued belief in large-scale cross-border renewable energy trade.

The economic imperative for such projects is undeniable. The International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed in 2020 that photovoltaic (PV) parks already generate “the cheapest electricity in history,” with costs plummeting below $20/MWh in prime locations. This cost advantage fuels an “export fever” among countries blessed with vast desert lands and favorable investment climates, such as Morocco, Australia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. These nations envision themselves as the future “OPEC of the sun,” leveraging their natural endowments to become major exporters of clean energy.

However, the UK’s decision highlights the complex interplay between economic efficiency and national security. While importing ultra-cheap solar power offers significant cost savings and accelerates decarbonization, it also introduces new dependencies and potential vulnerabilities. The choice between a globally optimized, cost-efficient energy supply chain and a more resilient, domestically controlled one will define the next chapter of the global energy transition, shaping new alliances and trade routes as the world moves from fossil fuels to a sun-powered economy.