Gamesa will create around 40 high-value jobs by this summer for its planned Offshore Wind Technology Centre in Glasgow. So it confirmed Jorge Calvet, Chairman and CEO of Gamesa to the First Minister following a meeting this week in Edinburgh.
The company has confirmed that the Technology Centre will be located at Strathclyde Business Park, about eight miles east of the city centre. The recruitment process has started and it will be completed with around 40 engineering staff by July/August, with the potential to grow this to more than 100 by the end of this year - rising to 180 within three years of the Centre beginning operational. It is due to be officially opened in the autumn.
Gamesa has indicated it is also prepared to invest in manufacturing, logistics and operations & maintenance (O&M) in Scotland, conditional upon development of offshore wind projects in the area, securing government support and the availability of sites for prototypes. If implemented successfully, Gamesa's offshore plan could represent an investment of around 50 million euro in Scotland and create 300 direct jobs in the country.
The First Minister took the chance to announce also a £1.5m regional selective assistance to support the development of the renewables base on the outskirts of Glasgow. He said: "I was delighted to hear about Gamesa's plans to develop its next generation of wind turbines. Gamesa is one of the world's leading turbine manufacturers and the decision to establish its Offshore Wind Technology Centre at Strathclyde Business Park is a huge boost for the Greater Glasgow region and for Scotland's rapidly growing renewable energy sector".
And adds: "I'm very pleased that Gamesa has secured premises for the new Centre and the recruitment process is already underway, with around 50 people expected to be employed there within the next few months, and many more to follow. The Scottish Government, together with our partners in Scottish Development International and our enterprise agencies, are committed to maintaining optimum conditions for continued inward investment in our world-leading renewables industry."
Mr. Calvet said: "Our commitment is strong and we are preparing to play a role in the offshore wind market. Our Offshore Technology Centre in Glasgow represents an important step in this strategy. Our offshore plans could generate significant local, skilled and sustainable jobs over the coming years. I would like to recognize the support and commitment from the Scottish Government and its development agencies during the ongoing discussions around these investment plans".
The company is working to launch two offshore platforms (G11X-5.0 MW and G14X-6/7 MW) and it has also announced that the UK will be the centre of its offshore wind business. It plans to invest over 150 million euro there by 2014. Gamesa estimates that the construction and development of its offshore wind business in the United Kingdom will create over 1,000 direct jobs and another 800 indirect jobs at local suppliers.
Adrian Gillespie, Senior Director of Energy and Low Carbon Technologies, Scottish Enterprise, said: "Gamesa's decision is a clear demonstration of the favourable business environment Scotland has to offer the renewable sector".