Sumitomo Electric named preferred bidder for 525kV HVDC sea link in UK
- July 16, 2025
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd has been named preferred bidder by National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC (NGET) for the Sea Link HVDC cable project, a proposed 138-km connection between Kent and Suffolk in the United Kingdom.
The Sea Link project, currently under consideration by the Planning Inspectorate, is one of the key infrastructure projects of National Grid’s “The Great Grid Upgrade”, which will substantially increase electricity transmission capacity in the United Kingdom, and deliver renewable and low-carbon energy efficiently to homes and businesses throughout the country.
The Sea Link cable will be produced from Sumitomo Electric’s submarine cable factory at Port of Nigg in Scotland, thereby contributing significantly to the policy goals of UK and Scotland regarding enhanced social value, sustainability, and decarbonisation measures. The Port of Nigg facility is aimed at supporting the UK HVDC critical infrastructure buildout towards net-zero 2050, and will, with support from customers and public authorities, be a magnet for supply chain investments and job creation in the UK and Scotland as more opportunities are confirmed.
Nemo Link
Sumitomo Electric, a technology leader in the HVDC cable industry, has a proven track record in HVDC projects in international markets since the 1970s. This experience includes Nemo Link, connecting UK and Belgium, which recently celebrated six years of “zero-failure” operation. Sumitomo Electric has delivered Nemo Link and the Greenlink interconnector between UK and Ireland commissioned earlier this year, as well as many other significant infrastructure projects, well within the target in-service date requested by the clients and regulators.
Also read: Sumitomo Electric completes Greenlink Interconnector
Featured photograph (source: Sumitomo Electric) is for representation only