Hopes were raised in Dundee on Monday that hundreds of new jobs could be created in the city after Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa revealed ambitious plans to invest £133 million in the UK.
The Courier revealed last month that the company was scouting potential sites for investment in Scotland and the firm confirmed on Monday that it would make the UK the centre of its offshore energy business.
Dundee is regarded as a front-runner in the chase to secure a deal with Gamesa, one of the world’s leading turbine manufacturers.
Representatives from the firm visited Dundee last month and city council leader Ken Guild said he is hopeful the city’s location and skills base will convince the firm to set up its manufacturing operations there.
“Dundee has a great deal to offer companies like Gamesa,” he said. “They had a look at Dundee and seemed to be quite happy with what they saw.
“I think Dundee made a very strong case to be included in the investment in the UK and I would hope that the company has seen it that way.”
Gamesa said on Monday it would create a research and development centre for offshore wind technology and a turbine manufacturing plant at two separate sites in the UK although it has not specified where.
The company also intends to base the global headquarters of its offshore division in London.
Gamesa chairman Jorge Calvert said, “The UK’s resolute decision to enact an ambitious offshore plan, along with the country’s support for foreign investment and the availability of large ports, which are essential in this business, convinced us to make the decision to base the global headquarters of our offshore activity in the UK.”
The emerging offshore wind sector was given a further boost on Monday when Prime Minister David Cameron announced £60 million of funding to upgrade the country’s ports in order to attract more investment in the renewables sector, which he said could create up to 70,000 jobs.
“I want us to be a world leader in offshore wind energy,” Mr Cameron said. “That’s why we’re committing public money to ensure we have the infrastructure that attracts major manufacturers to come here and build their offshore wind turbines.
“The commitment shown by companies like Gamesa who want to come to the UK and invest is good news for jobs and growth and good news for our clean energy future.”
Mr Cameron told the Confederation of British Industry’s annual conference that government support is needed to ensure Britain does not miss out on the “immense” potential of wind energy.
“Manufacturing these needs large factories which have to be on the coast, yet neither the factories nor the large port sites exist and that, understandably, is putting off private investors,” he said.
“To help secure private sector investment we’re providing up to £60 million to meet the needs of offshore wind infrastructure at our ports.”
He said 70,000 jobs could be created, adding that the Crown Estate was working with ports and manufacturers to support the development of offshore wind manufacturing capacity.
The Prime Minister said the potential for Britain to lead the world in the offshore wind industry was “immense,” especially as thousands of turbines would be needed in the next decade.
Two other firms, GE and Siemens, have plans to invest in the UK.
Siemens said it is on track to build its wind turbine factory ready for 2014, creating around 700 new jobs, while GE reaffirmed its plan to invest £100 million to develop offshore turbine manufacturing facilities in the UK.
Last month Spanish company Iberdrola announced it is to invest £3 billion in renewable energy projects in Scotland over the next two years.
Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce chief executive Alan Mitchell said, “I think Dundee and the Dundee and Angus area has already made a very strong case to be a key centre for the offshore renewables sector.
“There is both the manufacturing and skills base and the case will continue to be made.”
Image from Gamesa site.