Date Created: 27 September 2011
As developers and investors look across this global market for certainty and for leadership from government, they can look to Scotland to provide those things. We are determined to remain among the most attractive locations for manufacturing, including the prototype testing that follows the R&D phase.
A £35 million fund aimed at encouraging the manufacture of next-generation offshore wind technology in Scotland has been launched.
The POWERS fund, launched at the Scottish Low Carbon Investment conference, has been designed to build on recent success in attracting world-leading turbine manufacturers to open research and development bases in Scotland.
The fund will aim to leverage up to £80 million of private investment and bring the production of full-scale prototypes to Scotland.
POWERS (Prototyping for Offshore Wind Energy Renewables Scotland) will be managed by Scottish Enterprise working with the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The offshore wind industry is at a crucial stage in its development with global developers actively looking for manufacturing and construction sites.
More than 7000 wind turbines and over £100 billion in investment is expected in the UK industry alone in the next decade.
Speaking at the Scottish Low Carbon Investment conference Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister, said:
"The last year has demonstrated the appetite of the Scottish Government and private sector to work together to invest in this exciting new industry.
"As developers and investors look across this global market for certainty and for leadership from government, they can look to Scotland to provide those things. We are determined to remain among the most attractive locations for manufacturing, including the prototype testing that follows the R&D phase.
"That is why I am announcing a new £35 million fund to support production of full-scale prototypes of the next-generation offshore wind turbines that will power the renewables revolution, deliver our 2020 vision and reindustrialise Scotland."
Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, added:
"Offshore wind is a rapidly expanding, long term, global market, with significant low carbon economic growth opportunities for Scotland. We have a real opportunity to capture a share of the critical turbine manufacturing market and this fund underlines our commitment to developing our business environment to ensure Scotland is at the forefront of a globally competitive offshore wind sector and helps achieve Scotland’s low carbon economic growth ambitions."
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