11 December 2025
Sumitomo Electric to supply and install 525 kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable for Sea Link project in the UK
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Electric) has secured a contract with National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC (NGET) for supply and installation of the 140 km HVDC cable project “Sea Link” between Kent and Suffolk in the UK. The submarine cable for the project will be manufactured in Sumitomo Electric’s factory in the UK, maximising the social value of the project. The construction of Sea Link is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Sea Link is one of the key infrastructure projects of NGET’s “The Great Grid Upgrade" which aims to substantially increase electricity transmission capacity in the UK and efficiently deliver cleaner energy to homes and businesses throughout the country.
The Sea Link cable will be produced in Sumitomo Electric’s state-of-the-art submarine cable factory at Port of Nigg in Scotland, thereby contributing significantly to the policy goals of the UK government, strengthening the local supply chain in the clean power sector, enhancing social value and creating jobs, while supporting sustainability and decarbonisation measures.
The Port of Nigg facility has been built to actively contribute to the UK’s critical electricity transmission infrastructure construction for the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and the Net Zero 2050 initiatives. The factory, once fully operational, will create more than 200 direct jobs as well as numerous jobs in associated and supporting future supply chains. This represents a number of additional personnel directly related to the execution and installation of the project.
Sumitomo Electric, as a technology leader in the industry, providing subsea cable solutions for more than 100 years, will manufacture and install the Sea Link cables in reliable and timely manner, in collaboration with project partners Siemens Energy and marine contractor VanOord.
Masaki Shirayama, Managing Director of Sumitomo Electric, said:
“The Sea Link Project announcement represents a major step towards investment in the local supply chain in the UK, and we are proud to have its new cable manufacturing facility, which plays a pivotal role in contributing to the UK’s ambitious Net Zero plans, as part of The Great Grid Upgrade. We take this opportunity to thank National Grid for their support of our UK-based operation and, together with Siemens Energy and marine contractor VanOord, strives for successful project delivery.”
Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, said:
“The Great Grid Upgrade is more than an energy programme; it is one of the UK’s biggest engines of economic growth. By investing in skills, securing our supply chain, and working with world-class partners like Sumitomo Electric, we are supporting tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and manufacturing capability the UK needs for the long term.”
Michael Shanks, UK Energy Minister, said:
“Upgrading our electricity grid is key to keep the lights on and ensure energy security for our country. Investing in our grid transformation is creating manufacturing and skilled-work opportunities across the UK. This is our clean energy mission in action: driving growth, supporting local supply chains, and creating jobs in communities.”