UK’s first HVDC subsea cable factory opens in Scotland

Japan-headquartered Sumitomo Electric Industries has held the opening ceremony for what is said to be the UK's first HVDC subsea cable factory, located at the Port of Nigg in Scotland.

The factory, located within the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport boundary, represents an investment of £350 million (over €416 million) in the local Highlands economy.

The opening ceremony that took place on October 19 included Japanese cultural heritage with local Scottish traditions, featuring the ceremonial Kagami Biraki - the breaking open of sake casks with wooden mallets for good fortune - alongside bagpipe performances.

“I am delighted to celebrate the official opening of our new subsea cable factory in Scotland, following the announcement of its establishment in April 2023 and the groundbreaking ceremony held in May 2024. This factory will serve as a vital production base supporting the strengthening of the UK’s transmission infrastructure, the expansion of renewable energy deployment, and the delivery of a stable and reliable energy supply for generations to come," said Osamu Inoue, President of Sumitomo Electric Industries.

“Building on more than a century of experience and technological expertise in subsea cable systems, we remain committed to supporting interconnector and offshore wind projects across Europe. By helping connect the energy networks of the future, we will continue contributing to the development of a more sustainable society.”

The new plant covers 58,000 square meters of floor space on a 15-hectare site. It will manufacture 525 kV XLPE HVDC subsea transmission cables and subsea inter-array cables.

According to Sumitomo, the facility will directly create over 200 skilled local jobs, with a total projected impact of over 400 jobs across the broader UK supply chain. This will be supported by a “Train the Trainer” model and operator training programs conducted in Japan.

“This facility puts Scotland right at the heart of the energy transition and is a strong vote of confidence in our people, skills and engineering excellence. We invested £24.5 million in its construction to support hundreds of well-paid jobs in the Highlands and create lasting opportunities for future generations," said First Minister of Scotland John Swinney.

“As the first factory of its kind in the UK, it will help unlock our enormous offshore wind potential while bolstering energy security. We will continue to do all we can to create jobs, drive growth and build on Scotland’s position as the UK's leading destination for inward investment outside London.”

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