A £1.6 MILLION centre for training wind farm workers will open in Aberdeen after it was confirmed that Great British Energy will be based in the city.
Scotland’s leading provider of specialist equipment and skilled workers for offshore wind farm projects, Sarens PSG, announced a £1.6m investment to create a new Centre of Excellence in Aberdeen, along with 25 new jobs.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (below) welcomed the announcement as “fantastic news,” and said the decision was heavily influenced by confirmation that GB Energy – the UK Government’s new publicly owned clean energy company – will be based there.
We previously told how MPs have launched a probe into GB Energy and how its creation will impact on Scotland's energy industry.
The National also revealed it will not have its own exclusive headquarters and will instead be based in a building which is shared with oil companies.
GB Energy chair Juergen Maier also told MPs he expected between 200 and 300 jobs to be created in Aberdeen - less than one-third of what he had said previously.
Steve Clark, managing director of Sarens PSG, said: “GB Energy’s HQ in Aberdeen is a game-changer for the city and the wider Scottish energy sector.
“As we push to accelerate offshore wind development, it’s clear we need a unified, dedicated approach to ensure that all the necessary resources – facilities, people, and expertise – are in place.
“GB Energy’s presence in Aberdeen, along with the £400m South Harbour development and other major offshore wind initiatives, made Aberdeen the ideal location for our new Centre of Excellence.
“The offshore wind sector is a critical part of achieving our net-zero targets, but we’ve not been moving fast enough.
“With the support of GB Energy and other key players, we now have the opportunity to turbocharge the delivery of these projects and ensure Scotland remains at the forefront of renewable energy development.”
The centre will be based in Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone, at the Altens Industrial Estate, and is expected to open next year.
Murray said: “We are already seeing the benefits of GB Energy’s HQ being in Aberdeen and this is more fantastic news for Aberdeen and the energy sector in Scotland.
“Sarens PSG creating new jobs focused on renewables will help towards the UK Government’s target of ensuring that all electricity comes from zero-carbon generation by 2030.
“We want the full benefits from our energy sector to be felt by people and communities in Scotland and I am delighted to welcome 25 new jobs to the North East.”
