Japanese energy firm sets up Scots base

SURGING interest from businesses and communities looking to generate their own electricity has led a Japanese-owned energy company to establish a base in Scotland.

SmartestEnergy, which buys and supplies electricity from independent generators, has opened an office in Glasgow.

Chief operating officer Hiroyuki Sawade said: “Steep rises in energy costs and incentives such as the feed-in tariffs have made investing in generation an increasingly attractive option and we are now seeing record levels of interest from Scottish energy entrepreneurs.”