Spanish wind farm giant will invest in Leith

A MAJOR Spanish wind farm manufacturer is to create 800 permanent jobs in Scotland in a highly ambitious renewable energy investment package worth £125 million.

The port of Leith was chosen as the site for the factory ahead of Hartlepool, in the north-east of England, by Gamesa.

Javier Perea, Gamesa managing director for commercial projects, told The Scotsman that building work would start on the 80-acre site in spring 2013, with the bulk of the 800 posts be created within the next two to three years.

The Gamesa corporation is to recruit within Scotland to fill the posts in the factory to manufacture enormous blades for offshore wind turbines, as well as the generator units that sit at the top of the turbine.

Jobs created at the Edinburgh factory, which will be leased by Gamesea from Forth Ports, will include posts in assembling machinery, electrical and mechanical work, product quality testing and packaging.

First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed yesterday’s decision by the Spanish firm, which last year opened a research and development centre in Glasgow alongside its offshore wind headquarters in London.

Mr Salmond, who has heavily promoted renewable energy, said: “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.

“This is terrific news, meaning around 800 jobs and €150m of investment in Scotland. Their decision, coming less than a year after opening their offshore wind technology centre near Glasgow, follows many detailed discussions with the Scottish Government.”

Meanwhile, Gamesa boss Mr Perea revealed that the company could be set to announce further investments in “more capacity” for Scotland during the next few years, as he talked about the plans for the Leith factory.

Mr Perea said: “We need to ramp up the factory during 2014-15, but people will have to be contracted before that time.

“We did a study and got it down to two locations – Hartlepool and Leith. We also looked at Dundee, but decided to switch to Leith.

“The reason for the decision is that we need to have access to a harbour and deep water for the factory. Also we already have a research and development centre in Glasgow and we wanted to be able to have a cluster for the business in the area.”

The head of Scottish Government quango Scottish Enterprise said that the body had been in talks with Gamesa to secure the £125m investment.

Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson said: “Scotland’s strength in offshore wind is key to Gamesa’s decision to identify Leith as its preferred wind turbine manufacturing location.

“We look forward to continuing to support the company’s development plans.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore seized on the announcement to claim Scotland would attract increased investment by remaining in the UK.

He said: “Gamesa’s decision is a vote of confidence in Scotland and the whole United Kingdom. It reinforces the fact we have the skills to attract investment from around the world and that the UK Government’s commitment to the offshore renewables sector acts as an attractive prospect for business.”

But SNP Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi said the Gamesa announcement “demolishes” claims from anti-independence politicians that investment in Scotland is at risk due to uncertainty about the referendum.