– Sumitomo Electric UK Power Cables Ltd is developing a facility in the Highlands for high-voltage cables.
– The new facility aims to reduce lead times for subsea cables for offshore wind projects in the North Sea and Europe.
– The project is supported by funding from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Scottish Enterprise, and is expected to create 330 jobs in Scotland over ten years.
Sumitomo Electric UK Power Cables Ltd (SEUK), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd (SEI), is developing a new facility in the Highlands to produce high-voltage cables for offshore wind projects in Scotland and Europe. This facility will reduce lead times for subsea cables and play a crucial role in the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds, potentially adding 30GW of offshore wind generation capacity.
The Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and Scottish Enterprise are providing funding for the project, which includes £19.37m from the Scottish Government, £4.6m from HIE, and £530,000 from Scottish Enterprise. The project will create 330 jobs in Scotland over ten years, with 265 in the Highlands and Islands.
SEUK’s decision to invest in the Highlands was influenced by the recently designated Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport. Scottish Enterprise’s energy transition mission aims to accelerate technology innovation and investment in key infrastructure, making Sumitomo a great example of this approach. The chairman of SEUK expressed gratitude for the support received from the UK and Scottish governments, HIE, and Scottish Development International for this venture.