Doosan Power Systems, a leading provider of cleaner, greener technology, products and services for power generation, has scrapped plans to locate its renewables R&D base – and potentially offshore wind turbine manufacturing – in Scotland, creating hundreds of new jobs with investments worth up to £170 million.
The company has noted “overall economic conditions and liquidity issues” as the main reason for canceling the decision, but they will stay “committed to working in Scotland and the UK as a whole”.
The company in their statements said: “In light of the overall economic conditions and liquidity issues in Europe, Doosan Power Systems decided in December 2011 to withdraw from its plans for developing offshore wind turbines in Scotland.
“However, the company remains committed to working in Scotland and the UK as a whole, as demonstrated by our continual investment in technology and product development as a global centre of excellence for the Doosan Group.
“We also continue to fully support the development of clean energy solutions.”
Last year in March, Doosan and Scottish Enterprise agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under this MoU, the company intended to locate its R&D Centre of Excellence for Renewables at its current site at Westway in Renfrew, near Glasgow, supported by Scottish Enterprise, creating up to 200 jobs.
Doosan expected its offshore wind plans in Scotland to create up to 1,700 new jobs – of which the company would have directly recruited approximately 700, with a further 1,000 employed in the supply chain.
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Offshore WIND staff, April 20, 2012; Image: alpha ventus