Sumitomo Electric has decided to establish a factory in the Scottish Highlands, UK in order to capture the increasing demand for high-end cables in the region.
The new company will supply cables for offshore wind farms and further grid connections, which are indispensable for the introduction of renewable energies to the country’s electricity transmission systems, an official release from Sumitomo Electric said.
Through local production, stable supply, and long-term operation and maintenance services in the UK and other European markets, Sumitomo Electric will be able to meet the needs of customers and enhance its presence in these markets.
Renewable energy to boost cable demand
The introduction of renewable energy and interconnected national and regional lines are being promoted worldwide to achieve a decarbonized society. In the European market, where such trends are active, demand for power cables is growing. In particular, the UK is expected to be one of the largest markets for power cables, as the country is planning a number of offshore wind power projects to achieve the Scottish government’s Net-zero 2045 and UK’s Net-zero 2050.
Also read: Sumitomo Electric Wins Contract For NeuConnect Interconnector
Track record
In 2019, Sumitomo Electric delivered its HVDC cross-linked polyethylene-insulated (XLPE) submarine cable system for the UK-Belgium interconnector (NEMO Link) and successfully completed the installation. The 400kV HVDC XLPE cable system is the industry’s highest voltage in commercial operation even today.
This technical excellence has led Sumitomo Electric to win multiple contracts in the global market, including a project connecting the UK and Ireland (Greenlink Interconnector) and a project in Germany (Corridor A-Nord).
Sumitomo Electric also has a proven track record of delivering power cables for offshore wind power projects around the world including the UK, Germany, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan’s first commercial offshore wind farms at Akita and Noshiro, the release added.
Featured photograph shows Osamu Inoue, President & COO of Sumitomo Electric (left) with Neil Gray, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
