'Vast opportunities' in China for Scottish energy firms - Salmond

Published on Thursday 9 April 2009 14:36

SCOTTISH firms could play a leading role in China's renewable energy revolution, First Minister Alex Salmond said today.

China has set the target of doubling the share of energy consumption that comes from renewable sources by 2020.

And speaking on a visit to the country Mr Salmond said there would be "vast" opportunities for firms in Scotland to play a role in this.

Mr Salmond said China was already the world's leading producer of renewable energy, with investment in the sector there amounting to more than 12 billion last year.

But he said: "They want to go much, much further and the opportunities for Scotland to play a leading role in China's clean energy revolution are vast."

As part of his visit the First Minister today opened Glasgow-based SgurrEnergy's new office in Beijing.

And he said their success illustrated what other Scottish companies could achieve.

The engineering consultancy, which specialises in renewable energy, started trading from an attic in Glasgow.

But Mr Salmond said it was now a "global leader" in the renewables industry.

Speaking from the Chinese capital the First Minister said: "The renewable energy sector, probably more than any other, offers massive opportunities for our countries to collaborate. The potential benefits, domestically and globally, now and in the future, are vast."

He added that Scottish firms were "developing productive relationships within China thanks to their recognised expertise and innovation in clean energy".

Mr Salmond said: "SgurrEnergy's success shows just what can be achieved.

"It is only six years since the company began life as a small business in an attic in Glasgow. Today it is a global leader in the renewables industry, with expertise in hydro, wind, solar, biomass, microgeneration, wave and tidal power."

SgurrEnergy's co-founder Ian Irvine said: "Scotland is a world leader in renewable energy and by exporting our expertise we can help accelerate the global uptake of clean energy for everyone's benefit."

Jack Perry, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise was also at the opening of SgurrEnergy's new Beijing office.

He said: "Scotland has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world, which coupled with our strengths in innovation, have helped make us a leading global energy player in the field of clean, green energy.

"This latest development by SgurrEnergy not only demonstrates how successfully our companies are taking this innovation and experience and applying it globally, but it also helps set the stage even further for similar ventures in the future."

Mr Salmond also launched a scheme aimed at encouraging some of China's one million golfers to visit Scotland.

Those who pay 3,888 to join the Scottish Prestige Golf Club will get overseas membership of one of 100 courses here that are anticipated to take part in the scheme – with famous courses such as Gleneagles and Turnberry already signed up to take part.

Mr Salmond described the scheme as a "major new initiative to develop international golf tourism" which could attract thousands of extra visitors to Scotland.

"The opportunities here are huge," he said.

"Golf helps make Scotland a must-visit destination for millions of visitors each year, and the creation of this unique golf membership scheme will help us tap into the significant global growth in Chinese tourism.

"Golf tourism has the potential to deliver major benefits now, and even more importantly, significant growth for Scottish tourism in the long-term."