ETZ, the not for profit private sector-led company spearheading northeast Scotland’s energy transition, has been handed £17.3 million from the UK Government that was promised by the Conservative government.
Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander claimed the funding will “create jobs and bring down bills”, a statement likely to be challenged by those who accuse the Labour government of failing to deliver on other pledges about jobs and bills.
The ETZ operates from a base near Aberdeen South Harbour which has been redeveloped to provide the deepwater berths and other infrastructure needed for offshore wind manufacturing.
ETZ, chaired by the industrialist Sir Ian Wood, will also aim to leverage inward investment and support the renewables supply chain.
The latest funding, which is less than half the £40m recently donated by Sir Ian, was committed by the previous administration but was not delivered.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “The UK Government’s £17.3m investment in Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone will create jobs and bring down bills. This investment will accelerate a renewables hub which will help to deliver a thriving renewables sector in and around Aberdeen.
Maggie McGinlay, chief executive at ETZ Ltd, said: “To ensure North East Scotland remains a thriving hub of energy excellence, we must have government and industry working in partnership to support our world-class supply chain who will lead the delivery of the vast pipeline of energy transition projects, particularly offshore wind, on our doorstep.”
The UK Government has already invested £9.7m in the ETZ. That includes £5m for the Innovation Campus.
Mr Alexander was in Aberdeen to meet energy suppliers to discuss the UK Government’s clean energy ambitions. While in the city he attended an energy round table, met Great British Energy, was shown round the Floating Offshore Wind Innovation Centre in the Energy Transition Zone, and visited Aberdeen South Harbour.
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