Gamesa focuses on Offshore Wind R&D base in Scotland
New Centre for Offshore Wind Technology could create 130 jobs in Glasgow
Dundee in the frame for manufacturing and logistics investment
First Minister Alex Salmond today welcomed the announcement by world-leading wind energy company Gamesa of plans for a research base for offshore wind technology in Scotland.
The Spanish company’s proposals to establish an Offshore Wind Technology Centre in Glasgow, subject to final agreements on financing, could create 130 engineering jobs.
The company is also developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Scottish Enterprise, Dundee City Council and Forth Ports plc to advance a further potential development in Dundee around manufacturing, logistics and operations & maintenance (O&M), conditional upon development of offshore wind projects in the area and as part of a bid to the Scotland’s National Renewables Infrastructure Fund for support. If implemented successfully, Gamesa’s offshore plan could represent an investment of 50 million euro in Scotland and create 300 direct jobs in the country.
The announcement comes just a few months after Gamesa unveiled its industrial plan for offshore wind power in the United Kingdom, where it plans to invest more than 150 million euro through 2014. Gamesa is developing two offshore platforms, 5 MW and 6-7 MW, to be deployed in planned offshore wind developments in the North Sea in the coming years.
The Scottish Government, including the First Minister, has held various discussions with senior management from Gamesa about Scotland’s renewables industry, including in September when Mr Salmond led a delegation with Scottish Development International (SDI) to the Company’s global headquarters in Bilbao, Spain.
The First Minister said: “I’m delighted that Gamesa, a world-leading wind energy company, has signalled its intention to work with Scotland’s agencies to locate its Offshore Wind Technology Centre in Glasgow, potentially bringing new skilled jobs to the city. The Scottish Government together with key partners, have been working closely with the company to support this move and we are also working with them to develop the MoU which could see further jobs and investment coming to Scotland. I believe Dundee has a bright future as a centre of renewables development in Scotland.
“Scotland has the greatest natural resources for offshore renewables in Europe and this hugely significant announcement by Gamesa underlines the strength of our human resources in terms of expertise in innovation, design, manufacturing and engineering. It is further testament to Scotland’s leading role in the global development and deployment of renewables.”
Jorge Calvet, Chairman of Gamesa, said: “I am delighted to confirm our commitment to the UK and Scotland as we become more deeply engaged with the UK’s forward-thinking plans around offshore wind. Our plans for Glasgow and the potential for Dundee could generate significant local, skilled and sustainable jobs over the coming years. I would like to recognise the support and commitment from the Scottish Government and its development agencies during the ongoing discussions around these investments.”
Anne MacColl, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Development International, said: “Scotland has more than a quarter of Europe’s natural wind resources and unrivalled offshore skills thanks to our decades of experience in offshore oil and gas exploration. Companies from around the world already recognise the scale of opportunity in the Scottish offshore wind industry, and to today’s announcement from Gamesa provides a ringing endorsement of Scotland’s strengths in research, technology and innovation.
“We recently established the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund to support the development of our offshore wind industry, and are committed to working with partners throughout the supply chain to achieve a world leading position in this field. We look forward to continuing to work with Gamesa on its plans to develop its presence in Scotland.”
Gamesa’s offshore wind business headquarters will be based in London, form where it will engage in sales, project development, finance and management activities. Gamesa has previously stated that it intends to play a significant role in the offshore wind market to ensure that it capitalise on demand generated in the Northern European market, specifically the UK, beginning in 2015. Gamesa estimates that the construction and development of its offshore wind business in the UK will create more than 1,000 direct jobs and another 800 indirect jobs at local suppliers.
The First Minister met Jose María Vázquez, of the Gamesa Board of Directors, to discuss Scotland’s renewables industry when he led a delegation with SDI to meet a number of companies in Bilbao last September. Images from the visit and of turbines manufactured by Gamesa can be downloaded from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishgovernment/sets/72157625866536908/
Further information about Gamesa is available at: http://www.gamesacorp.com/en/
Today’s decision is the latest significant investment announcement for Scotland’s offshore renewables sector. Last year Spanish energy company and ScottishPower owner Iberdrola announced plans to establish its global headquarters for offshore wind projects in Glasgow.
Renewables met over a quarter (27.4 per cent) of Scotland's electricity needs in 2009 and this year the country is expected to exceed its national target of 31 per cent of consumption from renewables. Last September the First Minister raised the national target for 2020 from 50 per cent to 80 per cent of gross electricity consumed.
Scotland has some of the greatest renewable resources in Europe, with as much as a quarter of the continent’s offshore wind and tidal energy potential and an estimated 10 per cent of its wave power capacity. The Offshore Valuation Study published in May 2010 estimates Scotland’s practical offshore renewables resource at 206 GW. By harnessing around a third of this resource, installed offshore renewables capacity could reach 68 GW by 2050 – more than ten times the country’s peak demand.