Pick Everard and XLCC have secured planning permission from North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee, with construction on the UK’s first HVDC cable factory to begin in early 2024
North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee has granted full planning permission for XLCC’s HVDC subsea cable manufacturing facility, designed in collaboration with Pick Everard.
Demand for high-voltage cables is projected to dramatically increase as the demand for renewable energy grows internationally.
The first order committed to the UK’s first HVDC factory 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, with other domestic orders in discussion.
The brownfield development will add to Scotland’s booming renewable energy industry
The facility will support 900 local jobs within the next two years and boost potentially thousands more in the wider industry and supply chain.
Santosh Patel, director at Pick Everard who has been working closely on the project, said: “We’re proud to be involved and at the forefront of this project, helping to create a new high tech green industry for the UK. Reaching this milestone and securing full planning permission is a huge step in realising this cutting-edge project’s potential.
“We want the HVDC cable factory to be a beacon for others and an example of commitment to supporting our country’s drive to net zero. To reach our goals, expanding our solar and wind infrastructure is crucial, and this factory will help massively in accomplishing this.”
Renewable energy sources will be key to achieving net zero
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.”
Work on the site will begin in early 2024, with the first cables due to start production in 2026.
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