BY 2020, Fife can be the centre of Scotland’s low-carbon economy and this will encourage more companies to invest in the area and create up to 2,000 jobs, according to a report just completed for Fife Council, Invest in Fife and the Fife Economic Partnership.
The report says the growth in renewable energy has already presented Fife with an opportunity to develop a sector that can deliver high-skill jobs for years to come.
It is clear from reading the document that Fife is hellbent on competing with Aberdeen – even down to training personnel for the emerging offshore renewables sector.
This is already a core ambition of the Aberdeen project – the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre and is on the agendas of both universities and other training interests.
The report says: “It is intended to explore a possible training facility with the local further and higher-education sector.
“This will support skills required both for manufacture of offshore wind components and for installation and service of turbines.”
The worry for Aberdeen, in this regard, is that a piecemeal free-for-all will develop rather than a carefully considered, systematic approach, whether mastered by the Scottish Government and/or Scottish Enterprise with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The report continues: “Fife is particularly well placed as five of the major Scottish Territorial Waters and Crown Estates Round 3 blocks are located within easy sailing distance of Methil harbour.”
Likewise Europe’s Energy Capital.
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