Chinese wind turbine manufacturer invests up to $2 Billion in Scottish factory

Ming Yang Smart Energy, a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, will invest up 1.5 billion pounds ($2billion) in Scotland to build a manufacturing facility for wind turbines that could create as many as 1,500 jobs.

Britain hopes to create thousands more clean energy jobs and to increase its renewable power in order to meet its climate goals.

Ming Yang stated that the project will be constructed in three phases. The first phase is a 750-million-pound investment to create a facility for manufacturing wind turbine blades, nacelles and first production should begin by the end of 2028.

The company stated that the second phase will expand the facility to serve the floating offshore industry. The third phase would involve manufacturing electronic components, control systems and other key parts.

Aman Wang (UK CEO of Ming Yang) said in a release that "we firmly believe by moving forward with plans to create skills, jobs and a supply-chain in the UK, this country can become the global hub for off-shore wind technology".

The company has said that a number sites have been selected, with Ardersier Port in Inverness as the current preferred location.

Last month, the Chinese company signed an agreement to explore ways for Octopus's wind energy projects to utilize Ming Yang's technologies.

The use of Chinese renewable technologies has been controversial in Europe. The European Commission began a review of Chinese turbine manufacturers last year in response to concerns from the industry that cheaper imports might threaten the competitiveness for European firms.

Ed Miliband, Britain's energy minister, visited China in early this year to discuss energy and climate issues. He has stated that it would be negligent not to engage China on climate issues. ($1 = 0.7488 pound) (Reporting by Susanna Twidale, Editing by David Gregorio).

(source: Reuters)