Cable manufacturing company XLCC has secured detailed planning approval to build the UK’s first HVDC cable factory at Hunterston - and has promised to bring 900 jobs to the area in an employment boom.
North Ayrshire Council's planning committee has granted full planning permission for XLCC’s HVDC subsea cable manufacturing operations.
The decision paves the way for construction to commence and follows outline planning permission granted last year.
Work on the site will start in early 2024, with cable production set for 2026.
Development of the brownfield site will create 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 set 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. XLCC has also secured additional MOUs for domestic projects.
XLCC CEO, 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. 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.”
XLCC will provide a number of different services including HVDC subsea extruded cable, as well as cable laying, protection and repair. XLCC produces HVDC cables that run deep under the sea in most cases, enabling the transfer of renewable power from generation sites to end users. In this way, subsea cable technology has a significant impact in reducing the environmental consequences of electricity generation consumption around the globe.
Read a full interview with CEO Ian Douglas here
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