New deep-sea cable factory will 'bolster' Scotland's energy security

The UK's first high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable factory has opened at the Port of Nigg in the Highlands.

The Japanese firm behind the project, Sumitomo, said the cables would help power the UK's 'electricity superhighway' - the network of cables which will run between Scotland and England.

It said the cables will be capable of transporting a much higher volume of useable energy from offshore wind farms than traditional high voltage alternating current cables.

Sumitomo claimed up to 250 direct jobs would be created by the factory's opening, with more than 400 supported through the wider supply chain.

First Minister John Swinney said the £350m facility was strong vote of confidence in Scotland's people, skills and engineering excellence.

"As the first factory of its kind in the UK, it will help unlock our enormous offshore wind potential while bolstering energy security," he said.

Swinney attended the opening alongside the UK government's Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander.

The Labour MP said: "Scotland is helping to solve one of the biggest challenges in our transition to clean energy, connecting offshore wind to where it's needed most."

Sumitomo said the HVDC cables were important in the transport of "massive amounts of Scottish wind power directly to high-demand areas in the rest of the UK".

The manufacturing plant sits within the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

This is an area, specially designated by both the Scottish and UK governments, where normal tax and customs rules do not apply in full.