Jobs Boost At Wind Turbine Manufacturers

Whether you love them or hate them, wind turbines are in the news again this week, but this time it is for the right reasons. Areva, one of the biggest producers of wind turbines in Europe have announced their intention to locate the UK arm of the business in Scotland.

With the likelihood of up to 750 jobs in both the manufacturing and support supply chain, this is a tremendous boost to the Scottish economy. The work will revolve around the manufacture of blades and turbine casings and the deal setting out the intention to locate has been signed with the economic development agency Scottish Enterprise.

Possible locations around the country have been studied, with the current favourite being the east coast in the Firth of Forth.

Luc Oursel, chief executive of Paris based Areva, said “Scotland is known to be a pioneer in renewables and its commitment to offshore wind in particular was a key part of our decision to locate our future UK manufacturing base there.”

Areva said it will manufacture its five-megawatt turbines in Scotland for offshore projects in the UK, complementing its base at Le Havre which will supply France, Belgium and more southerly UK projects.

A third base in Bremerhaven, Germany, will help establish an operation to cover the European market, the firm said.

The Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, who was a witness to the agreement signed by Mr Oursel and Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said “The manufacturing of nacelles (turbine casings) and blades for these turbines in Scotland will deliver nationwide economic benefits as well as much welcome inward investment to the chosen location once that has been agreed.”

“This is another powerful example of how attractive Scotland is for international investors - and is indicative of our shared energy future.”

Prime Minister David Cameron described the news as “brilliant for Scotland”. Of course there has been a series of mixed messages about wind farms from the National Coalition government of late. Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey was forced to remind his junior minister, Conservative John Hayes to tow the line on policy when Mr. Hayes recently said that the country was “peppered” with onshore windfarms and that “enough is enough” when he spoke in newspaper interviews.

The question of wind farms remains an emotive issue, but what cannot be denied is that the industry has been responsible for the introduction of nearly £3 million into Scotland's renewable industry since 2009, and in these recessionary times that, at least, has to be good news.