Windfarm contract boosts construction jobs in Scotland
A multi-million pound contract to construct wind turbines in Scotland is good news for construction jobs and engineering jobs.
This week, SkyKon Tower Solutions secured the contract to build over 150 wind turbines in South Lanarkshire. It is hoped that the Scottish and Southern Energy managed site will be able to generate 350 mega-watts of renewable electricity once it is finished. This is roughly enough energy to power 200,000 households.
The chief executive for SkyKon, Jesper Ohlenschaeger, described Scotland as "the most positive and the most interesting renewable wind power market in Europe."
He said "this growing demand has allowed us to begin to meet our commercial objectives of becoming a leading tower supplier. The Cylde Wind Farm project represents a landmark phase in Scotland's renewable energy strategy and we now look forward to seeing yet another step forward in the country's sustainable economic development."
Although permission for the facility's construction was granted in July 2008 by the devolved Scottish Government, progress has been delayed whilst bidding for the contract took place. Now that SkyKon has secured the contract, recruitment for the building jobs and specialist skills needed for the Wind Farm can take place.
Work on the site is expected to commence in February 2010. As well as creating jobs in construction, the deal will reportedly help support expansion at the Vestats Wind Turbine Plant in Campbeltown. Over 200 manufacturing jobs at the plant, which SkyKon took over in March, will be secured.
The developments are part of a £600 million scheme to transform the Clyde Wind Farm site into Europe's biggest windfarm. Currently, the largest onshore site in Europe is the Whitlee development in East Renfrewshire.