First Minister Alex Salmond today announced plans by energy engineering giant Doosan Power Systems to locate its renewables research and development (R&D) base - and potentially offshore wind turbine manufacturing - in Scotland, creating hundreds of new jobs with investments worth up to £170 million over the next ten years.

Doosan and Scottish Enterprise have agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under this MoU, the company intends 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.

Subject to further discussions under the MoU a second phase would see the establishment of assembly and manufacturing facilities in Scotland - now the company's favoured location for wind turbine prototype-build and manufacturing.

Doosan expects its offshore wind plans in Scotland to create up to 1,700 new jobs - of which the company would directly recruit approximately 700, with a further 1,000 employed in the supply chain.

Separately the First Minister announced that Steel Engineering, also based at Westway, will create a least 120 new jobs, supported by £1.8 million Regional Selective Assistance through Scottish Enterprise - to double its full-time workforce and expand its business servicing a range of clean energy sectors, including offshore wind, wave and tidal power.

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Mr Salmond also announced that Skills Development Scotland is in discussions with the Steel Engineering about a planned training school which will be named The Renewable Energy Steel Trades Academy. In partnership with Anniesland College, the company plans to provide intensive and exclusive training tailored to the latest fabrication techniques, and welding procedures required by the renewables industry.

Visiting the two facilities, today, the First Minister said: "Doosan Power Systems is one of the world's leading energy technology and engineering companies and I'm delighted they have decided to locate their R&D centre in Renfrew, Scotland, to develop the next generation of offshore wind turbines. I'm also excited by the prospect of Doosan establishing a manufacturing facility in Scotland - today's announcement by the company is an important step towards that and towards many hundreds more jobs that will be created beyond the 200 posts announced today.

"This latest multi-million pound offshore wind investment announcement underlines Scotland's growing reputation for excellence and innovation in clean energy design and engineering. It is another great stride forward for the renewables industry in Scotland - which is now the chosen destination for three energy engineering giants to design their next generation of turbines to service the global offshore wind industry."

Jean-Michel Aubertin, Chief Executive Officer, Doosan Power Systems, added : "We are delighted to be strengthening our successful partnership with Scottish Enterprise. Together we hope to develop cutting-edge wind power technology that will enhance the role of renewables in the energy mix. This also is great news for Scotland's economy in terms of jobs and inward investment. Doosan's current wind power portfolio and position with the industry will continue to grow strongly over the coming years."

By 2020, the Low Carbon Economic Strategy shows there could be 130,000 jobs in Scotland's low carbon economy - a doubling of current jobs. Of this, the offshore wind industry could support up to 28,000 directly related jobs as well as a further 20,000 indirect jobs, generating up to £7.1 billion for the Scottish economy by 2020.

(GK/KMcA)