SUMITOMO Electric Industries has held an official opening ceremony for its £350 million HVDC subsea cable factory in the Highlands.
The facility, which is a ‘first of its kind’ in the UK, is located at the Port of Nigg and will play a key role in expanding the UK’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
HVDC subsea cables act as ‘electricity superhighways’ beneath the sea – enabling the efficient transmission of renewable energy from the source of electricity generation to areas of demand. In the UK, these cables are expected to play a key role in connecting offshore wind resources with areas of high electricity demand, supporting the expansion of renewable energy and strengthening energy security.
Located within the Inverness and Cromarty Firth green freeport boundary, the new plant represents a £350 million investment in the local Highlands economy and marks a major milestone in advanced renewable manufacturing.
The flagship factory covers 58,000 sq m of floor space on a 15-hectare site. As the UK’s first HVDC subsea cable plant, Sumitomo will manufacture 525kV XLPE HVDC subsea transmission cables and subsea inter-array cables.
Sumitomo revealed that the facility will create over 200 skilled local jobs, with a total projected impact of more than 400 jobs across the wider UK supply chain. This will be supported by a ‘train the trainer’ model and operator training programmes conducted in Japan.
The opening ceremony blended Japanese culture heritage with local Scottish traditions, featuring the ceremonial Kagami Biraki – the breaking open of sake casks with wooden mallets for good fortune – alongside performances by father and son bagpipe duo from the local area.
Osamu Inoue, president of Sumitomo Electric Industries, said, “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.
“We are confident that the products and technologies manufactured here will contribute to the UK’s transition to clean energy and help enhance energy security.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the UK Government, the Scottish Government, our customers, partners, and all those who have provided their invaluable support and cooperation in making this facility a reality.
“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.”
First minister of Scotland John Swinney added, “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.
“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.
Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Angus Campbell, commented, “This is one of the biggest inward investments ever made in the Highlands and Islands, bringing hundreds of high-quality jobs and significant opportunities for businesses across the supply chain.
“The fact that high-voltage subsea cables will be manufactured here in the Highlands and deployed in our coastal waters is hugely significant. It will strengthen the UK electricity grid, support the transition to net zero and further enhance the region’s reputation as a world-class location for major investment.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Sumitomo and our partners to ensure the benefits of this landmark project are felt as widely as possible.”
