Sumitomo Electric Chosen for Shetland 2 HVDC Project
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. has been selected by SSEN Transmission as the preferred bidder for the Shetland 2 HVDC project. The plan includes a 525 kV subsea cable stretching 330 km. It will connect the Shetland Islands, located about 160 km off Scotland’s north coast, to the mainland.
This new link follows the success of the first HVDC cable between Shetland and Caithness. It will play a key role in expanding renewable energy capacity and improving the stability of the UK’s national grid.
Investing in Nigg: A Boost for Scotland
Sumitomo Electric will build the new cable at its £350 million Nigg facility, now under construction in northern Scotland. The company says winning the Shetland 2 contract confirmed its decision to invest in this state-of-the-art site.
The Nigg plant represents the first UK production of advanced HVDC cable technology. When completed, it will help local industries, create new jobs, and reduce reliance on imported cables.
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, praised the partnership: “We’re delighted to reach this milestone with Sumitomo and Van Oord. The Nigg facility is a major investment that will bring long-term benefits to the Highland economy.”
Building a Stronger Network for the Future
As Shetland News reported, this project marks the second HVDC link from Shetland to mainland Scotland. The first, a 600 MW cable, went live last year. Once the Lerwick Power Station goes into standby next year, Shetland will rely fully on the national grid for power.
Van Oord Offshore Wind UK will handle subsea cable installation, working closely with Sumitomo Electric to deliver the project safely and on time. This collaboration highlights the shared commitment to expanding renewable energy connections across the UK.
Powering Growth Through Offshore Wind
The National Grid ESO confirmed the need for a second Shetland link in its Beyond 2030 plan. This initiative outlines how the UK will modernize its transmission network to support future growth in renewable energy.
The new 525 kV cable will enable connections for three nearby ScotWind offshore wind farms, delivering up to 2.8 GW of renewable power. Altogether, more than £20 billion in network upgrades will strengthen Northern Scotland’s role in the clean energy transition by 2030.
For more project updates, visit SSEN Transmission’s official website.
