Forth Ports denies Leith move is a blow for Dundee's renewable energy hopes
The chief executive of Forth Ports has denied favouring Edinburgh over Dundee as its major offshore renewables manufacturing hub in the east of Scotland.
There are concerns that Dundee is losing out in the race to become the home of Scotland's offshore renewables ambitions.
- By Graham Huband, business editor
- Published in the Courier : 10.02.12
- Published online : 10.02.12 @ 04.44pm
Charles Hammond was speaking on Thursday in the wake of an announcement by Forth Energy that it is scrapping plans for a multi-million-pound biomass plant at Leith to make more land available for renewables manufacture.
Forth Energy — which is a joint venture between Forth Ports and Perth-based energy provider SSE — said its £1.1bn plans for three other biomass plants at Rosyth and Grangemouth and at the docks in Dundee are unaffected by the Leith decision.
The firm will now move to reconfigure the layout of the docks to give the best chance of securing major inward investment — potentially hundreds of millions of pounds over the next decade — from the green energy sector.
A number of parties are exploring the possibility of locating at Leith including Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa, a one-time suitor of Dundee which decided to end its interest in the city primarily because of a lack of available development land.
Mr Hammond denied the plan to free up more space at Leith is an indication that Forth Ports is concentrating its efforts on making the central belt port its main Scottish renewables hub.
He said Dundee remains in the picture for both offshore and biomass developments.
''We have good inquiries at both Dundee and Leith but they are distinct inquiries,'' Mr Hammond said. ''Dundee is at least as much a priority for us as Leith but a lot depends on the nature of the inquiries we receive.
"Different companies are interested in different ports and have different needs. We are working really hard to bring people to Dundee and I am personally involved in that process.
''I want to see Dundee being successful as an offshore renewables hub. We won't try to develop Leith at the expense of Dundee. I value what we have created up at Dundee and I am committed to making Dundee a success.''
The Dundee biomass plant — which has caused major controversy over its location, design and eco-credentials — alone would create up to 70 permanent jobs and hundreds of construction trade posts during the building of the £325m facility.
Managing director Calum Wilson said the firm is committed to the three remaining projects, which would collectively produce 300MW of electricity and 260MW of heat if built.
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06.00pm - 10.02.2012 Dundonian - Dundee, scotland Report This
This situation is starting to stink. First Gamesa 'reject' Dundee due to lack of space after years of site research.Then it becomes clear that Forth Ports turned down Gamesa to go with SSE, who are behind the Biomass plan.Next Leith becomes a top location for Gamesa and FP drops its Biomass plan!
08.59am - 11.02.2012 2nd Dundonian - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I think we can all see through this. We can only hope that manufacture down the port begins before protest stops the building of the biomass plant.
10.52am - 11.02.2012 tim - ne fife, scotland uk Report This
if we can see through this the first minister and his advisers can too? given it must be a 'yes', what is the end game for dundee from the snp govt.?
11.04am - 11.02.2012 Student wanting good job - Dundee, Scotland UK Report This
Alex Salmond take note. We've listened to two announcements from you regarding the creation of thousands of jobs in Dundee without anything happening.
11.08am - 11.02.2012 True Dundonian - Dundee, UK Report This
It is now clear that Dundee has been stitched up, in a take it or leave it situation, watched hopelessly by Mr Salmond. Dundee SNP group want a biomass plant, but the people of Dundee, don't. Is that clear enough to understand??
02.12pm - 11.02.2012 Not Happy - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Dundee college is about to become the number one renewable college in Scotland..... makes no sense not to pick Dundee.
09.52am - 12.02.2012 Can we have our port back - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Forth ports, the clue is in the name: They see Dundee as an industrial site like Grangemouth or Rosyth. This "Biomass" plant, Incenerator, is as unwanted as the one in the center of Perth. Can we have a statement from SNP Dundee.
11.00am - 12.02.2012 Realist - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Carbon capture, energy, less landfill, its all rubbish. What SSE want is a port where they can import all manner of rubbish from overseas, the cheaper they can get it for the better, and burn it into energy for them to reap the rewards. Dundee gets nothing out of this deal.
11.57am - 13.02.2012 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Nothing in this story suggests any proposed investment in Dundee is under threat. The SSE deal is still there and Forth Ports still want the £325m Biomass plant to go ahead. Perhaps its time for some to stop putting Dundee down with baseless innuendo over things that haven't happened.
12.24pm - 13.02.2012 Dundonian - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The only people who are 'putting dundee down' are those who wish to build the largest polluting monstrosity that the city has ever seen, and right at the 'front door' to the city. Those who mention Dundee in the same breadth as Grangemouth and Rosyth are the ones who are really belittling Dundee.
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