Sumitomo Electric cuts sod on cable factory after securing Shetland 2 work

SSEN Transmission, part of UK energy group SSE Plc (LON:SSE) has selected the consortium of Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd and its subsea cable installation partner, Van Oord Offshore Wind UK, as the preferred bidder for the proposed Shetland 2 subsea link.

As a result of receiving this notice, Sumitomo Electric Industries has proceeded to formally start construction of its subsea transmission cable factory at the Port of Nigg in the Scottish Highlands. Both announcements were made on Tuesday when the groundbreaking ceremony was held.

The Japanese company explained that the Shetland 2 high voltage direct current (HVDC) link is the anchor project that supports the start of construction of the cable factory. It is a 330-km (205-mile) connection between Shetland and the mainland that will bring 2 GW of renewable electricity to Great Britain’s network, according to Sumitomo Electric’s announcement.

SSEN Transmission said that the need for a second HVDC connection from Shetland to the British transmission system was confirmed by National Grid ESO’s latest strategic network plan, "Beyond 2030".

“We now look forward to concluding contractual negotiations with the Sumitomo Electric Van Oord Consortium in the coming week and months and in parallel, continuing constructive engagement with Ofgem, the UK and Scottish Governments, and wider stakeholders to establish the regulatory framework for Shetland 2 and the wider ‘Beyond 2030’ network investment recommendations,” said Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission.

Shetland 2 will facilitate the connection of three ScotWind offshore wind farm sites next to Shetland.

“A second undersea cable connecting Shetland to the Scottish mainland will add 1.8 GW of clean wind-generated power to our grid,” remarked UK Government Energy Security and Net Zero Minister, Justin Tomlinson.

“The Shetland 2 contract would underpin Sumitomo’s decision to locate its first European cable factory at Nigg and support hundreds of jobs in the Highlands,” said Scottish Government Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan.

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