The Kintyre Forum

From todays BBC News
" The Campbeltown plant has been bought by Wind Towers Limited, a joint venture between Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Marsh Wind Technology."

The factory at Machrihanish employs more than 100 people.

In May, it was announced that Wind Towers Limited had been given preferred bidder status.

That deal has now been completed, securing the immediate future of a major employer in the area.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has agreed to invest £3.4m as part of the deal.
Argyll and Bute Council is also committed to a £12m infrastructure upgrade to Campbeltown Harbour and some roads around the area to help make the most of the operation's potential.

Ian Marchant, chief executive of SSE said: "SSE has invested in a range of new initiatives in the past year to ensure a robust and sustainable supply chain is created for renewable energy developers in Scotland.

"I am pleased that we have been able to work with Marsh Wind Technology and Highland and Islands Enterprise and the local council to secure the future of the Machrihanish plant and add another link to this chain.

"The focus of the Wind Towers Ltd management team will now be on efficiently delivering the order book already in place and then fully using the excellent facilities available at the site to make the most of the expanding market for offshore wind turbines " "

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has agreed to invest £3.4m as part of the deal.
Argyll and Bute Council is also committed to a £12m infrastructure upgrade to Campbeltown Harbour and some roads around the area to help make the most of the operation's potential

I am against the so called sustainable revolution, not because it might help the planet, but because it is hugely subsidised. The power generated is a lot more expensve than other forms of energy, and these companies have a guaranteed price paid. And while it is good news if the jobs remain, or are created it still sems that your taxes/our taxes, are being lashed out to try and keep these already highly subsidised companies in the area. How many companies have owned the Machrihanish factory up to now? It does not seem to be sustanable

Bitter End wrote:From todays BBC News
Argyll and Bute Council is also committed to a £12m infrastructure upgrade to Campbeltown Harbour and some roads around the area to help make the most of the operation's potential.

That's great news about the Campbeltown plant and for the employees , but would it be better if Argyll and Bute Council spend that nice figure of £12 million on our badly needed road repairs,a bit more important than further harbour upgrades.

http://www.renewablog.co.uk/?p=1633

Wind Towers completes purchase of Skykon pant at Machrihanish
By EcoBlogger

Wind Towers Ltd, the joint venture between SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) and Marsh Wind Technology Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Marsh Global Holdings Ltd, has completed the purchase from its Administrators of the Skykon wind turbine tower manufacturing and assembly plant at Machrihanish near Campbeltown.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has agreed to provide an investment of £3.4million and Argyll and Bute Council is committing to a £12million infrastructure upgrade to the local port and roads.

The Wind Towers Ltd joint venture was established in February 2011 and was granted preferred bidder status by the Skykon administrator in March 2011.

In addition to producing wind turbine towers for onshore wind farms, the construction of new facilities to allow the production of turbine towers for offshore wind farms at the site – begun under Skykon – is almost complete. This will enable the plant to participate in the next phase of offshore wind developments.

SSE is the UK’s largest generator of electricity from renewable sources. Marsh Wind Technology is a UK subsidiary of Marsh Global Holdings Ltd. which has substantial experience in restructuring manufacturing operations around the world.

Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE said:

‘SSE has invested in a range of new initiatives in the past year to ensure a robust and sustainable supply chain is created for renewable energy developers in Scotland. I am pleased that we have been able to work with Marsh Wind Technology and HIE and the local council to secure the future of the Machrihanish plant and add another link to this chain.

‘The focus of the Wind Towers Ltd management team will now be on efficiently delivering the extensive order book already in place and then fully using the excellent facilities available at the site to make the most of the expanding market for offshore wind turbines post 2013.”

First Minister Alex Salmond said: ‘When I met staff and management at Machrihanish in March, I was struck by their drive and determination to ensure turbine manufacturing continued at the plant so I’m delighted that its long term future has now been secured with this successful sale to the SSE and Marsh joint venture.

‘I’m also pleased that, through SDI and Highlands and Islands Enterprise we have been able to assist in the development of Wind Towers’ ambitious future plans to move into the growing offshore wind turbine sector over the coming years.

‘Alongside the continued deployment of clean green energy across our country and around our coast, I’m determined that we secure the associated manufacturing, fabrication, servicing and maintenance so communities such as Campbeltown fully benefit from the renewables revolution and continue to play a key role in the rapidly growing low carbon economy.”

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said:

‘This private and public sector partnership investment recognises the vitally important role Machrihanish has to offer. The experience and reputation of these two global companies combined with the area’s skills and infrastructure makes for an amazing opportunity for Campbeltown to play its part in the international renewables sector.

‘We are ambitious for the future of the site. Investments already made mean it is capable of increasing onshore output and manufacturing larger towers for offshore sites as that market grows. Its prime location means it is well placed to supply the offshore market, particularly potential developments in the Irish Sea and off the west coast of Scotland.

‘HIE wants our region to be a world leader in the renewable energy sector. Our investment provides another piece of the infrastructure needed for Scotland to deliver the developing sector’s needs.”

William Marsh said: ‘All the partners in Wind Towers Ltd believe that this plant has an important role in building the supply chain base for the growing wind energy sector in the UK and that it will have a healthy future in the medium term as the demand for turbine components expands. It is our aim to build the Campbeltown operation into a stable and reliable partner to our customers with a singular focus on creating value in the supply chain.’

This plant – its contribution the major growth area of wind renewables, its up-to-speed construction capability and its employment potential is very important for the economic development of Campbeltown and the whole of Kintyre.

Argyll and Bute Council’s commitment to the infrastructural development is central to this and we can only hope that it will include making the A83 fit to receive the business traffic that should be generated.

Ideally, a development like this needs to draw to itself the establishment of other related businesses to form a specialist cluster underpinning the role of Kintyre in this important industry sector.

Irrespective of subsidies and sustainable revolution,it is a good day for the workers and their families at the plant.

Split these posts from the previous thread about the Skycon closure as feel this deserves a thread of its own. Great news and a new beginning again!

Statement from Argyll & Bute Council

Councillor Neil Mackay, spokesperson for enterprise, energy, culture and tourism has welcomed news that the wind-turbine manufacturing plant at Machrihanish has a new owner.

Councillor Mackay said:

“Argyll and Bute Council is delighted that Wind Towers Ltd has bought the manufacturing facility at Machrihanish.

The council and it partners have the vision and energy to put Argyll and Bute at the forefront of Scotland’s renewable revolution.

This is an important announcement in terms of delivering our Renewable Energy Action Plan.

The council is investing in Campbeltown’s roads and harbours as it is one of the premier locations in the Scottish Government’s national renewable infrastructure plan.”

Brilliant news! Lets hope it lasts!

I think it's now possible to be as confident as it ever possible to be on these things. The problems were with the Danish parent firm - there was no question mark over the viability of the Machrihanish operation itself. As SSE is one of the two partners in the joint venture firm, it effectively means people in Perth are now, at least, sharing the driving seat.