Biomass plant will not affect Gamesa's planned investment
Controversial plans to build a biomass plant at Dundee docks will have no influence on proposals by Spanish company, Gamesa, to set up a manufacturing base in the city.
An artist's impression of the Dundee biomass plant.
- By Stefan Morkis
- Published in the Courier : 27.01.11
- Published online : 27.01.11 @ 10.43am
Forth Energy wants to build a 100MW electricity generation plant and Scottish Enterprise had suggested that renewable energy firms may be attracted to Dundee because of the possibility of cheap electricity and heat provided by the biomass burner.
The Scottish Government will decide whether to give Forth Energy the green light to build the plant, although this is now unlikely to happen until after the Scottish Parliament elections in May.
Following a heated debate on Monday night, Dundee City Council's policy and resources committee voted to ask the government to defer their decision on the plant until more information was made available about its possible environmental impact and effect on air quality.
A report by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) approved the plan in principle, but warned it would add to nitrogen dioxide levels at the Stannergate roundabout that are already in excess of European legal limits.
Memorandum
Gamesa, meanwhile, announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding confirming its desire to set up manufacturing, logistics and maintenance services in Dundee for the development of offshore wind farms.
These would create nearly 200 long-term jobs in Dundee and could be the first of hundreds as companies to develop wind farms in the North Sea.
Although their plans are only at the provisional stage, a Gamesa spokeswoman has confirmed plans for the biomass plant will have no impact on their proposals, whether it is built or not.
She said, "Our interest is in wind power projects. In this case, we need main two things-the development of offshore wind power projects in the area, and the availability of sites for prototype offshore wind turbine generators."
She added, "In the wind market (onshore and offshore especially) it is key to be competitive to develop the industrial base and the logistics and operation and maintenance activities close to the offshore wind projects or customer.
"At the end, the final decision to develop an industrial base and some activities around offshore is from the customers, utilities or wind farm developer, and the suppliers, as Gamesa, only can follow the decision of the customer."
Gamesa is 20% owned by the Spanish power company Iberdrola, which is also the parent company of ScottishPower.
Last September the firm announced it is to invest £2.7 billion in renewable energy projects in Scotland.
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