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Gamesa gives UK wind industry major boost

Wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa has given a boost of confidence to the UK offshore wind industry by announcing plans to build a major manufacturing facility in Leith which will produce the giant wind turbines that are set to be built around the British coast.

The project could be worth up to €150m Euros of investment (around £125m) and is expected to support over 1,000 direct jobs. The new factory is expected to make the enormous blades for wind turbines as well as the generator units that sit at the top of the turbine.

Along with their Research and Development centre in Glasgow and its offshore wind HQ in London, this announcement shows Gamesa’s commitment to establishing the UK as the main focus of its worldwide offshore wind business.

Welcoming Gamesa’s announcement, Prime Minister David Cameron, said: “This is fantastic news for Scotland and shows that the UK remains an attractive place for foreign investment.

“Scotland benefits from UK wide initiatives to promote renewables and access to the entire UK consumer market. That coupled with the economic security that comes from being part of one of the world’s most successful unions makes Scotland an obvious place for companies like Gamesa to invest in.”

Energy Secretary, Ed Davey, added: “I am delighted that Gamesa has chosen to invest in Leith and cement its commitment to the UK offshore wind market. The Government has been working with the company on this project for some time so it is great to see real progress being made.

“This was clearly a closely run race between two excellent locations – a powerful message to the offshore wind industry that the UK is the place to be.

“Projects like this have the potential to bring investment and support jobs across the whole of the country. Being a United Kingdom means we can attract the large investment necessary and keep costs down.”