XLCC has obtained planning approval to build the UK’s first high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable factory in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
The North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee has granted planning permission for XLCC’s manufacturing operations in Hunterston, which will make subsea cables for use in the renewables industry.
The brownfield site will break ground in the coming months and once fully operational, will support 900 jobs in the area, XLCC said.
XLCC’s first order is for four 3800 km long cables to connect solar and wind renewable power generation in the Sahara to the UK for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project.
XLCC project director Alan Mathers said: “We look forward to delivering a factory of great local and international importance for HVDC subsea cables.
“The UK will be positioned as a world leader in the green economy, with the site at Hunterston playing a key role in connecting cheap, green energy from renewables projects around the world.
“We would like to thank the local community for their support during the consultation process.”
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and Climate Change, said: “We believe this can just be the start for Hunterston and we can continue providing high value jobs and new innovation capacity in the green, blue and circular economies to realise Hunterston’s national potential as a contributor to net zero.”
To support the recruitment drive in the local area, XLCC is working in partnership with Ayrshire College to increase the number of “performing engineering operations” courses available to prospective students across Ayr, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning campuses.
Additional Course content will be provided by MarCable Consulting and will deliver cable manufacturing fundamentals.
Around 60 HVDC Jointers in total will be needed for the facility.
Training will include two months in a specialist facility in Germany to develop base level skills, with return to Hunterston seeing further development through on the job training, working on test lengths of cable to produce certified HVDC joints ahead of full cable production.