THE UK’S FIRST SUBSEA CABLE FACTORY HAS BEEN APPROVED

North Ayrshire Council’s planning committee has granted permission for XLCC’s high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable factory in Hunterston.

The decision paves the way for construction to commence and follows outline planning permission being granted last year. Work on the site will now start in early 2024, with cable production slated for 2026.

Development of the brownfield site is aimed at creating a new UK industry to support global decarbonisation targets. By 2025, the facility will support 900 jobs in the area; with thousands more in the wider supply chain.

Demand for high-voltage cables is predicted to increase six-fold over the next seven years, as many countries look globally to expand their sources of renewable energy.

XLCC’s first order is for four, 3,800km long cables to connect solar and wind renewable power generation in the Sahara to the UK for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project.

The company has also secured additional Memorandums of Understanding for domestic projects.

Chief executive Ian Douglas said: “To deliver the energy transition and achieve net zero, the improved global transmission of electricity is critical. Put simply, there can be no transition without transmission, so as demand for HVDC cables continues to boom, we are excited to bring such a significant project to an area with a proud industrial pedigree.

We thank the local community and North Ayrshire Council for their constructive engagement and support during the process, and we look forward to working with them and other local partners to ensure the factory delivers maximum benefits to Hunterston and the wider region.”

The Billericay-based business plans to provide a number of different services, including subsea extruded cable, as well as cable laying, protection and repair.