19/04/2012

Scottish Off Shore Wind Project Scrapped

A project that would have created hundreds of jobs for Scotland’s offshore wind sector has collapsed after a major foreign investor pulled out.

Doosan, the Korean investor, has blamed deteriorating confidence in the offshore wind market for its decision.

The scrapping of the plan come just 12 months after Doosan Power Systems announced plans for a research centre and turbine factory in Renfrew, including the construction of a £170m "centre of excellence".

The company, whose plans were unveiled by First Minister Alex Salmond last year, said it had told the Scottish government and its customers four months ago of its decision.

However, no public statement was issued until the news emerged at an industry conference in Denmark on Wednesday.

Doosan said it had decided in December to withdraw its plans for developing offshore wind turbines in Scotland "in light of the overall economic conditions and liquidity issues in Europe".

Continue reading the main story

It added: "However, the company remains committed to working in Scotland and the UK as a whole, as demonstrated by our continual investment in technology and product development as a global centre of excellence for the Doosan Group.

"We also continue to fully support the development of clean energy solutions.

"We informed the Scottish government and potential customers at the time. We were not prevented by the Scottish government from releasing the news."

(H)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 July 2009
Extra £1bn Pledged For Wind Farm Programme
Three UK-based banks start work today with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a programme to lend up to £1 billion to onshore wind farms over the next three years.
18 December 2003
UK announces 'largest ever' green energy strategy
The largest ever expansion of renewable energy "anywhere in the world" has been announced today which aims to power more than one-in-six British households by 2010. The 15 new offshore wind farm sites will produce enough electricity for four million homes, the government said.
23 September 2010
World's Largest Wind Farm Officially Opens
The world's largest offshore wind farm in Thanet, Kent, has been officially opened today. Swedish energy firm Vattenfall, who built the wind farm, launched a new 100 turbine 300 MW offshore wind farm off the south east coast of England which produces enough energy to power more than 200,000 homes.
16 June 2011
Met Office Team To Maximise Wind Energy
Met Office experts will be presenting new ways to maximise wind farm investment at wind energy conferences in Scotland this week in light of the volatility of wind resource over the last year. Weather patterns, and crucially wind speeds, underpin the success for this type renewable energy.
31 March 2009
Local Ports Meet With Government To Discuss Wind Farm Future
More than 100 port operators, developers, investors and wind manufactures from across the UK met yesterday with the Government to cut through a potential bottleneck in offshore wind farm development.