Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Dublin-based Europlan Group has been awarded the EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) contract for the development of a subsea power cable manufacturing factory in the Port of Nigg in the Scottish Highlands with Japanese multinational company Sumitomo Electric. The project will support the delivery of critical infrastructure to help build resilient supply chains for the offshore wind and renewable energy sectors.

The announcement was made at the recent Enterprise Ireland’s Offshore Wind Forum which was held in Croke Park, Dublin. This knowledge and networking event convenes the growing Irish offshore wind supply chain with key industry decision makers from across the Irish, UK and global offshore wind markets.

Commenting on the contract win with Sumitomo Electric,Donnchadh Campbell, MD at Europlan Group, said: “As an Irish company with a mainly Irish-based workforce, we are thrilled to have been awarded this competitive contract, which is testament to the quality and capability of Irish engineering and its standing internationally. This project at the Port of Nigg will be responsible for the delivery of critical infrastructure to support the offshore wind and renewable energy sectors at this pivotal moment in the transition to green and renewable energy sources.”

Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy said: “The high value contract announced by Europlan Group is reflective of the significant growth opportunities for Irish businesses who can meet the supply chain needs of the offshore wind sector. Their technical capabilities and innovation can help the global offshore wind industry to achieve its substantial energy generation ambition in the years ahead.”

Irish firms benefit significantly from proximity to the UK market, currently one of the world’s largest offshore wind markets. The UK has set the ambition to achieve up to 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030, including 5 GW from innovative floating technology, which will require approx. 2,600 additional wind turbines and a minimum capital investment of £48 billion by 2030 to meet this target.

A total of 64.3 GW of global offshore wind capacity across three continents and 19 countries was in operation by the end of 2022Over 380 GW of offshore wind capacity, across 32 markets, is predicted to be added in the next ten years (2023-2032). Over 40% of that growth is expected to come from Europe.

Enterprise Ireland will also be working closely with the developers of the four offshore wind projects which were approved in the recent recent Irish ORESS1 auction to ensure that as many Irish businesses as possible become embedded in project supply chains, maximising local content and jobs.