Dundee is in a two-horse race with Hartlepool to secure a £150 million wind turbine manufacturing plant that could bring 800 jobs to the city.
Spanish turbine maker Gamesa signed a memorandum of understanding with Dundee last year to explore the possibility of opening a manufacturing and maintenance base in the city and will decide in October if it is to press ahead with plans to open in Dundee.
However, the Basque company’s chief executive and chairman Jorge Calvet said the company is also looking at Hartlepool as an alternative location for the plant.
Mr Calvet, who attended the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference in Edinburgh this week, wants the factory to be open by next year with construction of turbines under way no less than a year later.
He said the 800 jobs Gamesa envisages creating could be doubled by giving firms in the area contracts to supply the base.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “We will take a decision about where will install our plant at the end of October. We have to decide between the two ports Mr Calvet has mentioned.”
Dundee City Council said Gamesa is just one of a number of renewable energy companies considering investing in the city.
“The council and its partners in Dundee Renewables are all focused on attracting this investment and jobs for the city,” a spokesman said.
“We have been in discussions with Gamesa to promote the case for Dundee and Scotland. We are aware, however, that the company is also looking at other options.
“Along with our partners at Forth Ports, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, we are talking to a number of companies looking to confirm their commercial interest.
“As the offshore renewables industry develops over the next few years, we are hopeful that a number of opportunities may emerge for Dundee.”
Gamesa opened an offshore wind technology centre in Glasgow this week, which will eventually employ 180 people. The company is part owned by Iberdrola, the Spanish firm that owns ScottishPower.
Despite this, the two companies scrapped a “strategic alliance” to develop wind farms together earlier this year.IndecisivenessPhil Wharton, head of Dundee renewable energy firm Oceanteam Equipment Base, who has spent 30 years in the industry, said Gamesa would not be disappointed if it chooses Dundee over Hartlepool.
But he said deals like it may be jeopardised by the Scottish Government’s indecisiveness over where to allocate money from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
He wants ministers to prove their support for the renewables sector by stumping up financial backing.
He said: “We all know about this £70 million investment but there has been no announcement and my impression is that a lot of these big companies, such as this Spanish company, are waiting to see what investment will be put into this area before they commit.
“I am concerned that we will lose the opportunity in the renewable sector in the same way Dundee lost out on the oil and gas.”
Mr Wharton said Dundee has the best port in Scotland and as such is a frontrunner in being awarded significant government investment.
The city boasts a deepwater marine base allowing larger vessels to safely dock in a location close to rail and road links.
“Dundee really is in a prime location and can accommodate global companies,” he said. “Of course, if it can achieve this, then the spin-off to other firms in the city is huge.
“One big advantage Dundee has over Hartlepool is that it is a secure port. There is 24-hour security here and that is very important when you are dealing with millions of pounds worth of equipment.”