Salmond hails China renewable energy deal

Published on Sunday 9 January 2011 18:15

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed a £6.4m renewable energy technology deal signed between Scotland and China.

The agreement, which was announced as Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang began a four-day visit to the UK, will see technology pioneered in Scotland used at a new renewable energy conversion plant in China.

Confirmation of the deal came as Mr Li and his delegation arrived in Edinburgh for the first day of his visit on Sunday.

The licensing deal has been agreed between Sino-Scottish firm Shanghai Huanuan Boiler and Vessel Cochran (SHBVC) and engineering company W2E Engineering Ltd Scotland.

W2E, who specialise in generating electricity from domestic refuse by gasification, signed a 10-year licensing and manufacturing agreement.

The work will be carried out in Annan, Dumfriesshire, where Cochran - the Scottish arm of SHBV - is based, and a new renewable energy conversion facility will be built in China.

Mr Salmond said: "This agreement with W2E will now result in a working partnership to fulfil alternative energy solutions that are sustainable, renewable and environmentally proven.

"SHBV/Cochran intend to build green power stations using this technology both in Scotland and in China.

"While China will benefit from improved waste management, green power and the direct manufacturing jobs in building the equipment and constructing and operating the plant, the Annan plant will benefit from undertaking the R&D, engineering and project management.

"This can then be applied to future green energy plants in UK, China and worldwide, potentially making Annan a centre of excellence for this technology."