Gamesa Picks Scotland for Global Wind Turbine Plant

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- Scotland is celebrating another wind energy success story as Spanish renewable energy major, Gamesa Corporation S.A. (MCE:GAM) (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain), has announced that it will establish its new global manufacturing operation at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh.

The decision will see the investment of up to €150 million ($200 million) in the construction of two plants, one dedicated to producing wind turbine nacelles and blades and the other to port logistics and operations and management services. In all, up to 800 jobs will be created and construction could begin as soon as next year. The company confirmed this week that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Leith. However, Gamesa warned that its investment is conditional on the U.K. government retaining an attractive investment framework for offshore wind projects.

"If market conditions are favourable this would mean many high quality jobs for the area," explained Gamesa Chairman and CEO, Jorge Calvet. "We hope to play a central role in strengthening the UK's offshore wind energy sector and improving security of energy supply in the future. In achieving this we would also minimize any environmental impact whilst continuing to invest in and build relationships with the local communities with which we shall be working."

Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, commented: "I'm delighted that Gamesa has chosen Scotland and the fantastic Port of Leith as its preferred location for the manufacture of its new model of offshore wind turbines. Their decision, coming less than a year after opening their offshore wind technology centre near Glasgow, follows many detailed discussions with the Scottish Government, SDI and Scottish Enterprise."

Gamesa already has a foothold in Scotland, with the establishment of a new R&D facility in Strathclyde last year. It currently employ over 60 engineers with the intention of boosting that to 180 in the coming years. The company is also in the process of moving its global offshore wind headquarters to London.

Last month, Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries Company Limited (SEO:010140) (Seoul, South Korea) revealed plans to invest up to €120 million ($158 million) to establish its first European wind turbine manufacturing plant in Scotland. The company wants to construct a plant at the Fife Energy Park at Methil which will be used to build its giant, 7-megawatt (MW) turbines, due for launch in 2015. For additional information, see February 2, 2012, article - Samsung Picks Scotland for First European Wind Turbine Plant.

The U.K. has the most ambitious offshore wind energy plans in the world at present, with a goal of developing up to 25,000 MW of offshore wind in its Round 3 series of windfarm contracts. Over the past year, most of the leading turbine manufacturing companies have expressed interest in setting up manufacturing operations there. In January 2011, German engineering giant Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) (Munich, Germany) selected the Port of Hull in England for its proposed offshore turbine manufacturing and export facility while in May 2011, Vestas Wind Systems (OTC:VWDRY) (Randers, Denmark) earmarked 70 hectares of land at the Port of Sheerness in Kent, England, to build its proposed 7 MW offshore turbine, the V164-7.0 MW. For additional information see Siemens Chooses Port of Hull for Wind Turbine Plant and Vestas Picks U.K. for Offshore Turbine Plant.

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