Samsung to invest £100m and create 500 Scottish green jobs

Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond has today (January 31) welcomed news the firm is to base its first European offshore wind project in Fife.

SHI is now committed to building and test a new 7MW offshore wind turbine at the site.

The announcement came at the Scottish Offshore Wind and Supply Chain Conference in Aberdeen, at which Mr Salmond was delivering a keynote speech.

Mr Salmond said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome this inward investment by Samsung which further reinforces Scotland’s place in the development of the next generation of offshore wind turbines.

“Their choice of Scotland as their first base in Europe for renewable technology development is testament to the fact this country is fast becoming the European centre for research and development in new offshore wind technologies.

SHI chief executive, Insik Roh, said: “We are pleased to be participating in the development of the Energy Park at Methil at such an exciting time for the Scottish renewable energy industry.

“We hope to contribute to the Scottish economy through successful testing and certification of our cutting edge offshore wind turbine.”

Charity WWF Scotland also gave the plans a warm welcome, with director, Dr Richard Dixon, praising the move.

He said: “While other parts of the economy are sluggish or even going backwards the renewables industry is going from strength to strength.

“This investment will create jobs and help reduce carbon emissions, making it excellent news for Fife, for Scotland and for the environment.

“This is an industry which is already spending hundreds of billions around the globe every year and we are now a key player in this rapidly growing sector.

“Renewable energy will be bigger than oil for Scotland and the Government needs to put it even more firmly at the centre of its economic and jobs strategies.”

Luke Walsh