Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi has announced it is to invest £100m in a research and development centre in the Edinburgh area.
The company has chosen Scotland as the site for the development of technically advanced offshore wind turbines.
First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed the announcement and said it confirmed Scotland's position at the forefront of research energy renewables.
The project could create up to 200 jobs by 2015.
Mitsubishi is also acquiring an Edinburgh University spin-off, Artemis Power, safeguarding 25 jobs.
The deal was made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) through its subsidiary, Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe (MPSE), and announced at a press conference in the capital.
The firm said the development builds on an agreement with the UK government earlier this year to provide £30m to support the overall investment.
Wind supply
The company aims to deliver the hydraulic technology in a large offshore wind turbine, which it expects will be a "game changer" in offshore power.
Mr Salmond said: "Scotland is a leader in the development of clean green energy and boasts a world-class research and development base that is pioneering technologies which will have a global impact on combating climate change.
"Mitsubishi's decision to invest in Scotland demonstrates how Scotland's renewable revolution is gathering pace and that we have the quality infrastructure and skilled workforce to deliver success in this rapidly-growing industry.
"Over the long-term this announcement could result in the creation of a major offshore wind turbine manufacturing site in Scotland."
Akio Fukui, Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe chief executive, said the selection of Scotland was a "significant milestone".
He said: "The successful development of this technology will make Britain/Scotland a key player in the offshore wind supply chain, potentially leading to the development of manufacturing capacity delivering to the Scottish, UK and European markets."
Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, said: "The news that Mitsubishi has decided to make a major investment in our renewable industry demonstrates that Scotland is a major global player on marine energy.
"This investment will help create green jobs and deliver clean electricity.
"It shows the huge opportunities we have to develop the green technologies that will play an essential role in global efforts to tackle climate change while also helping build a low-carbon economy for Scotland."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11910575
 
It is estimated that Scotland could produce around 25% of Europe's energy needs from renewable resources once these energies reach full efficiency and there is the means to 'transport' the energy produced.
There was an  almost simultaneous announcement that 10 European countries which border the North Sea (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11909048) have agreed to construct an offshore electric grid to utilise the expansion of wind and tidal energy and to trade surplus electricity.
 
 
 

Great post, Bruce!

well Bruce is a famous Scottish name!!!

yup thanks Bruce! (interesting too...hope it is a beginning)

Its a good move for sure - I just find all the politco-media-buzz stuff spewing forth really quite sickening.

Its an important message and it is excellent news, but the way they go on about it, then as an afterthought they add that TEN other Europpean countries have agreed to start setting up facilities in the North Sea areas nearby using basically the same technologies...

Fair enough I suppose, they need to promote Scotland, and I guess the news in each of those countries is clamining similar world leader status in renewable...blah...blah... haha!

The big question is this...

Why were they NOT doing this 20 years ago... no wind? I dont think so...

Thanks for another interesting post mate!

i support green..........

good post Sir Ian Bruce.....

"First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed the announcement and said it confirmed Scotland's position at the forefront of research energy renewables".......i thought it only confirmed scotland as one of the windiest places on earth

Oh we are windy as hell!! (especially after a good chicken tikka!)

Grezz - the reasons it didn't happen 20 years ago are probably twofold; firstly many of the big companies were not taking the renewable energies as seriously as they do now. This is a huge investment considering it is just R&D and hopefully will lead to a surge in the manafacturing of turbines. Secondly, 20 years ago, all the power was still in London. As we devolve further and (hopefully) head to independence, there is more effort to bring investment inwards, rather than taking money out.

Oh, the 2 stories were completely seperate. They were not linked on the television news, nor were they linked on the BBC website, but I thought they should have been. One of the big arguments against the efficiency of these energies has been on how it would be distributed from geographically diverse locations. This new grid, by connecting Scotland to other European coastal countries, opens the doors for future exports of electricity. Given that we alone could supply a quarter of European enrgy needs, it does bode well for seeing reductions in the use of more polluting energy production.

Love you long time...