£7bn offshore wind turbines blow 700 new jobs into city

LEITH is in line for a major jobs boom after it was placed at the heart of Scotland's plans for off-shore wind turbines.

A Scottish Enterprise blueprint has identified the port as the best site in the country for manufacturing and constructing the turbines. It is estimated that could lead to at least 700 new jobs over the next five years, with thousands more in the pipeline.

A 7 billion offshore windfarm in the Firth of Forth with around 600 turbines was given the go-ahead last month as part of a bigger drive to develop wind energy which will see around 7,000 turbines around the UK coast.

First Minister Alex Salmond has forecast the offshore renewables industry will create 20,000 jobs in Scotland within just ten years.

Today's National Renewable Infrastructure Plan warned that if suitable sites were not found for manufacture and construction, there was a risk offshore wind developers would source equipment outside of Scotland.

The report put Leith at the top of the list of sites to be developed in the first phase of locations. It was well placed not only for the Firth of Forth windfarm, but also those proposed for the Moray Firth in the north and Dogger Bank, off the east coast of England.

Now Scottish Enterprise will work with port authorities to prepare more detailed plans and attract investment to the sites. Construction of the windfarms is expected to start in 2015. SNP Lothians MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said Leith was ideal as a manufacturing and maintenance hub. She said investment would benefit both developers and local people.

She said: "The Firth of Forth windfarm project has potential to create around 700 jobs in building and maintenance, and maybe thousands more further up the supply chain. Scotland will reap enormous benefits from these projects in terms of clean energy.

"But at the same time we must try to maximise the potential for new jobs by involving as many Scottish companies as possible in manufacturing and maintenance of the wind turbines.

"It is highly appropriate for Leith to share in the jobs boost that the Firth of Forth development will bring, it's ideally located."

Today's list – drawn up with port owners and offshore developers – gave Leith top rating for proximity, site, location and timescale. The port scored 87 out of 100 in the assessment, ahead of Dundee and Nigg.

Scottish Enterprise said Rosyth, although not included in today's blueprint, could be involved in future phases of development.

Energy minister Jim Mather said: "Scotland is globally recognised as a centre for marine energy and the offshore wind industry will invest around 20bn in Scottish waters over the next ten years.

"We have massive opportunities to build strong, vibrant industries throughout the supply chain and that's why we are taking a national approach to infrastructure to maximise the economic benefits from renewables."