XLCC has been awarded a £9 million grant by Scottish Enterprise to continue the development of its £1.4 billion Hunterston cable manufacturing facility.
The high voltage direct current cable (HVDC) manufacturing company will create the UK’s first HVDC factory in Hunterston, after receiving planning permission in May from North Ayrshire Council.
XLCC said that the facility will ‘transform’ the job market for the local community, with it set to employ up to 900 highly-skilled permanent workers once operational.
The firm added that it will work closely with Team Scotland partners including Scottish Enterprise, North Ayrshire Council, Skills Development Scotland, and local learning institutes to deliver the project in ways that maximises economic benefits for the region and its people.
HVDC cables enable efficient long-distance electricity transmission, which are described as ‘perfect’ for connecting power grids via undersea connectors. They have a significant role to play in global electricity supply as countries look to boost energy security by identifying more renewable sources. Recent industry projections indicate that subsea cable demand will outstrip supply by 2.5 times in 2030.
Ian Douglas, CEO of XLCC, said, “We welcome the decision by Scottish Enterprise to award XLCC this £9 million grant. As we continue to work towards building a greener future for Scotland and the wider UK, investing in and mobilising the power of local communities is vital and this grant helps us set our Hunterston project on the best footing. Green energy is the future, and we want to empower Scotland to be part of the transition.”
Adrian Gillespie, CEO of Scottish Enterprise, added, “XLCC’s plans for Hunterston have the potential to be transformational for the regional economy and an extremely important addition to Scotland’s offshore renewables capability. Together with our Team Scotland partners, we’re working closely with the company as it seeks to address the enormous and growing demand for HVDC cables both in Scotland and internationally.”
