Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. is proud to announce the successful completion of the Greenlink Interconnector Project, underscoring its exceptional expertise in cable manufacturing and installation. This significant achievement involved the deployment of high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) and fiber optic cables for its client, Greenlink Interconnector Ltd. (referred to as Greenlink).
The Greenlink Interconnector Project utilizes Sumitomo Electric’s cutting-edge and eco-friendly HVDC cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables for submarine and underground electricity connections, linking the electricity grids of Ireland and the United Kingdom. This new grid connection will bridge Great Island in County Wexford, Ireland, and Pembrokeshire in Wales, UK, allowing electricity to flow in either direction based on supply and demand in each country. The project reached a major milestone with the successful completion of all testing, commissioning, and handover of the cable system to consortium partner Siemens Energy AG. Trial operations are set to begin in the coming months, marking another step forward for Sumitomo Electric in enhancing the quality and reliability of electricity interconnections.
The project included the production and installation of onshore HVDC cables along a 24 km route in Ireland, a 6 km route in Wales, and submarine cables across a 160 km offshore route. James O’Reilly, CEO of Greenlink, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Greenlink is extremely pleased that Sumitomo Electric has completed all onshore and offshore HVDC cable installation work ahead of schedule. We eagerly anticipate the successful testing and commissioning of the project later this year. We extend our sincere gratitude to Sumitomo Electric and their subcontractors for their outstanding contributions to the Greenlink project.”
Sumitomo Electric has established an impressive track record in renewable energy development and trade between European countries and regions. This includes the successful commissioning of the 1,000-megawatt NEMO HVDC interconnector between the UK and Belgium in 2019, which has operated with an outstanding 99.5% system availability over the past five years. The success of the Greenlink Interconnector further strengthens this reputation.
