MPSE announces Scottish wind-turbine technology centre

Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe (MPSE) is to invest up to £100m to create a centre for advanced technology in Edinburgh to carry out research and development into offshore wind-turbine technology.

In addition, the Japanese firm is to acquire Edinburgh firm Artemis Intelligent Power (AIP). The acquisition of AIP will safeguard 25 jobs and create 30 high-value engineering posts at the Scottish technology firm.

Over the next five years, MPSE expects to create up to 200 jobs at the new centre and at AIP. The company is also considering creating a major offshore wind-turbine manufacturing site in Scotland that would build more reliable and less expensive transmission systems for wind turbines based around Artemis’s intelligent power hydraulic technology.

Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise have been working with MHI and AIP over a number of years to secure the deal.

Akio Fukui, chief executive officer at MPSE, said: ’The successful development of this technology will make Britain a key player in the offshore wind supply chain, potentially leading to the development of manufacturing capacity delivering to the Scottish, UK and European markets.’