East coast players uniting to grab renewables opportunity

An agreement which aims to consolidate the east coast of Scotland's global position in the renewables sector should move closer in the coming months.

By Craig Smith
Published in the Courier : 18.08.10
Published online : 18.08.10 @ 01.47pm

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Key players in the energy industry stretching from Peterhead to Dunbar are in talks to create an East Coast Renewables Alliance which would build on the work at council level in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Angus, Fife, Edinburgh and East Lothian.

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All seven councils are said to be involved in developing the alliance and discussions should continue towards formally developing the alliance and how it would work in practice.

The alliance's focus would be to promote the east coast as key for investment and is expected to bring together businesses, public sector organisations, universities and colleges to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Working with Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, Fife Council is taking a lead role, and council leader Peter Grant is keen to see the new set-up in place.

He said, "Working together, the alliance will explore areas for co-operation which will lead to greater success through a common offer than could be achieved if each area worked only in isolation."

The move towards a formal alliance has also been backed by Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart, who believes partnership working will help bring together resources to deliver support for companies investing in Scotland.

He said, "We need this kind of cross-boundary collaboration from local authorities to position Scotland as a key location for investment."

First Minister Alex Salmond showed his support last month at the Welcome To Fife Pavilion at the Open in St Andrews, showcasing 50 east-coast renewable energy companies and representatives of higher and further education.