Mitsubishi tie-up to create 100 Scots jobs in low-carbon sector

Published on Friday 16 July 2010 14:44

Scotland is poised to regain its title as one of the engineering centres of the world, industry chiefs declared yesterday, as a major deal was unveiled to exploit the country's huge green energy potential.

Japanese giant Mitsubishi announced plans to come together with Scotland's biggest firm, Scottish and Southern Energy, to develop cutting-edge technology in the low-carbon sector.

Initially, 100 engineering jobs will be created at the new Centre of Engineering Excellence in Renewable Energy, set up by SSE and Strathclyde University, but as many as 1,000 are expected there by 2015.

The deal was hailed yesterday as proof Scotland was leading the world in developing the tools to exploit wind, wave and tidal power. SSE and Mitsubishi aim to develop improved wind turbines, more efficient technology for electric cars and better power generation methods.

Meanwhile, SSE said that it marked one of the most significant tie-ups since the boom in North Sea oil, back in the 1970s.

It comes with both Scottish and UK ministers having set ambitious targets aimed at sourcing far more of the country's electricity needs from renewable energy. The Scottish Government wants 50 per cent of electricity usage coming from renewable sources by 2020, and has set a target of cutting the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by the same time.

Mitsubishi chiefs were enthused by the deal both due to the high levels of engineering expertise in Scotland and the chance to develop the local market, industry figures said.

Speaking at the signing of the deal yesterday, First Minister Alex Salmond claimed the move cemented Scotland's growing reputation at the forefront of green technology.

"Scotland is taking a lead in the global journey to a low-carbon future through our commitment to world-leading greenhouse gas reductions and to harnessing our vast wind and marine power resources. I am very pleased to welcome this new partnership," he said. "Scotland is now the place for wave and tidal power and the development of offshore wind power."

Colin Hood, chief operating officer of SSE said: "The agreement represents one of the most significant industrial partnerships to be established in Scotland since the heyday of North Sea Oil. Low carbon represents Scotland's biggest economic opportunity since then."

Mitsubishi, one of Japan's industrial giants, can trace its roots back to a Scotsman, Thomas Glover. The son of an Aberdeen coastguard, he emigrated to Japan in the mid-19th Century and some of the companies he set up in shipping and mining became part of the Mitsubishi organisation.

Ichiro Fukue, senior executive vice president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said: "I am delighted to be working closely with SSE on the important challenge of moving towards a low carbon economy."The two great island nations of the United Kingdom and Japan are providing global leadership in this field, and it is very satisfying for me to be building on the links between MHI and Scotland that were established in the 1860s by Thomas Glover."

The deal was hailed by Enterprise chiefs as reward for behind-the-scenes work in Japan.