Power firm charged up after £33m investment

Temporary energy supplier Aggreko awarded £1.5m SE research grant

Temporary energy giant Aggreko is to build a new generation of power products on the back of a £33 million investment in its Scottish facility.

The Glasgow-headquartered group’s innovation programme will see it bringing forward new methods of converting waste heat to energy, expand the use of solar-diesel hybrid technologies and create more energyefficient diesel and gas fuel solutions.

Aggreko – which employs more than 500 staff in Scotland – is a major player in the international temporary power market.

Its installations help support vital energy infrastructure in numerous countries worldwide and it also provides support to major sporting events including the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, the opening ceremony for which took place yesterday.

The new investment will support the creation of 23 new jobs at the group’s Lomondgate facility.

A £1.5m research and development grant from Scottish Enterprise has been awarded to the project and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon toured the site yesterday.

Aggreko chief executive Chris Weston said the group needed to innovate.

“Power generation and energy markets are going through a fundamental change and businesses, organisations and governments across the globe are having to respond rapidly to this changing energy landscape,” Mr Weston said.

“The Scottish Government has identified the need for a low-carbon economy and increased innovation as a top priority.”

Scottish Enterprise managing director Linda Hanna said: “By bringing our support to these projects we can help Aggreko maximise its innovation, continue to anchor itself in Scotland and further increase Scotland’s reputation as a global energy hub.”

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government had increased R&D grant funding for business by 70%.

The £45m increase is designed to ensure Scotland is at the forefront of technological innovation.

Ms Sturgeon said: “As our new energy strategy sets out, it is crucial that we find new ways to ensure energy is produced efficiently, and integrates renewable and low-carbon technology – as is the case with these developments by Aggreko.”

Getty Images. Picture: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon meets apprentice electrical engineer Stacey Blair during her visit to Aggreko’s plant at Lomondgate.