Energy Minister Fergus Ewing today welcomed the decision of the UK Technology Strategy Board to headquarter its ‘Catapult’ innovation centre for offshore renewables in Scotland.

Mr Ewing said the choice of Glasgow for the headquarters of the new Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult - with the operational centre in Northumberland close to the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) - was recognition of Scotland’s leading position in the development of offshore renewables technology.

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Under the plans, the ORE Catapult is to be headquartered in the International Technology & Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ), which already incorporates Strathclyde University’s £89 million Technology Innovation Centre and has secured industry partners including Scottish and Southern Energy, ScottishPower and the Weir Group.

Mr Ewing said: "The waters around these islands, and off Scotland in particular, offer the greatest offshore renewables resources in Europe. Building on that natural advantage, this new industry-led partnership - including Scotland’s two major utilities - can help accelerate the development of clean green energy to power the continent sustainably."

(GK)