New factory could build subsea cable between Shetland and mainland

SSEN Transmission says it needs a new subsea cable to link offshore wind farms with the National Grid

A £350m factory in the Highlands could be used for the manufacture of a high voltage cable between Shetland and the Scottish mainland.

Construction has started on Sumitomo Electric's factory at Port of Nigg on the Cromarty Firth.

The Japanese company has been selected as the preferred bidder for SSEN Transmission's proposed 205-mile (330km) Shetland 2 High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link subsea cable.

The cable would help to connect three ScotWind offshore wind farm sites near Shetland to the UK's National Grid.

Sumitomo Electric said its facility, which is being backed by UK and Scottish government investment, could create more than 150 jobs in the Highlands.

The site could open in 2026.

UK Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Justin Tomlinson and Scotland's Net Zero and Energy Secretary Màiri McAllan were at Port of Nigg on Tuesday to mark the start of construction on the factory.