Thousands of new jobs in the wind

Dundee and Fife could be in line for almost 4000 new jobs following selection as sites for the development of major offshore wind energy systems, it emerged today.

The £18 billion, 10-year project is expected to go ahead in 11 specific areas and a report by the British Wind Energy Association suggests it could lead to as many as 20,000 jobs for Scotland.

On a pro-rata basis, Dundee and Methil’s Energy Park Fife could expect to share more than 3500 jobs as new companies come on stream to provide the infrastructure necessary for the development of offshore wind turbines.

Dundee and Methil have well-established port facilities and Dundee also has a history of offshore fabrication work for the oil industry.

The other sites selected by Scottish Enterprise are Leith, Nigg, Hunterston, Aberdeen, Arnish, Campbeltown, Ardesier, Kishorn and Peterhead.

The employment figures come from a BWEA report that estimates in its best case scenario the UK as a whole will benefit from 57,000 new jobs through wind turbines.

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