The UK’s first plant building subsea cables to carry electricity from wind farms was officially opened yesterday at Nigg in Easter Ross, part of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
The project by the Japanese Sumitomo Electric Group representing an investment of £350 million pounds was grant funded in part by the Scottish Government to the extent of £24.5 million pounds and is said to create over 200 skilled local jobs with a total of more than 400 jobs across the UK.
It is intended to make a significant contribution towards realisation of the UK Net Zero Target by contributing to critical electricity transmission infrastructure to connect and deliver renewable energy, including offshore wind, to UK consumers and beyond. As a result, the UK is no longer one of two G7 countries unable to manufacture High Voltage Direct Current cables.
Following the success of the first Poolewe Oktoberfest last weekend, organisers have confirmed that it will return to Poolewe Village Hall next year from 1st to 3rd October and that they are already working with agents to bring household name artists and performers to next year’s event.
They say they plan to build on everything that worked so well this year and are looking forward to another great celebration of live music, good food and local beer. They ask everyone to save the date.
This year’s Royal National Mod held in Glasgow was brought to a close at the weekend and was considered to be a great success with estimated attendances of 11,500, an increase of 20% on last year, with around 300 competitions and events at 16 venues.
Among the winners this year at events associated with the Mod was Jenny Cunningham from An Talla Solais, Ullapool who was selected from a short list of 70 for her work Evening Light, Camanscoille and who was awarded the Highland Art Prize giving her the opportunity to hold an exhibition next year at The Briggait in Glasgow. A highly commended runner up was Sheila Robertson also from An Talla Solais.
Next year’s Mod will be held in the Western Isles from 8th to 16th October with Stornoway serving as the main hub and practical base.
