Monday, April 21, 2023
Aberdeen energy park set for £150m boost
The private sector is being invited to invest in a key strategic location for the energy industry in Aberdeen City and Shire predicted to create hundreds of new jobs.
Scottish Enterprise (SE) is to set up a Joint Venture to manage the Aberdeen Science Parks, aiming to lever in around £150million of private sector investment which will generate an additional £130million annually to the region's economy and double the number of jobs at the Bridge of Don locations to more than 4,000.
The enterprise, investment and innovation agency is now seeking a private sector partner and has gone out to tender with the proposal to run Aberdeen Science and Energy Park, opposite the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, and the science and technology park at Balgownie, Bridge of Don.
SE is working with agency Bidwells, which has worked on other similar projects in the UK, and aims to identify a private sector partner later this year. Staff who have worked to attract private sector investment to the highly successful Edinburgh Bioquarter project have also advised on the initiative.
David Littlejohn, director of industries and infrastructure at SE in Aberdeen City and Shire, said: "The parks are seen of national importance to Scotland's economy because of their capacity to drive growth and encourage the research and new products needed to ensure our energy industry continues to be a world-leader well into the future.
"They also a major part of the Energetica project to create a global hub for energy technology development.
"The existing buildings on the parks are almost fully occupied and there is strong demand for plots from companies looking to build their own premises so we expect the Joint Venture will be attractive to the private sector.
"The benefit of taking this approach is that it will secure long-term investment from the private sector which will bring greater value for the taxpayer. It will also bring greater marketing opportunities around the world, publicising our region as a great place to live, work and do business with an excellent quality of life."
The invitation to tender comes as work is well underway by SE to create an Energy Development Centre at Aberdeen Science and Energy Park to encourage innovation and turn research into marketable products. The first phase of the £4.4million research and development base at Aberdeen Science and Energy Park will provide 12 individual units and create the infrastructure needed for the second phase of 15 units.
The units will be made available on short-term, flexible leases to technology companies working on research, design and development in all energies and the building will be one of the first in Scotland to generate approximately half its power on site through biomass and wind power. It is already attracting considerable interest at a time of unprecedented demand for space at the Aberdeen Science Parks, with occupancy levels around the 95 per cent mark.
Scottish Enterprise (SE) is to set up a Joint Venture to manage the Aberdeen Science Parks, aiming to lever in around £150million of private sector investment which will generate an additional £130million annually to the region's economy and double the number of jobs at the Bridge of Don locations to more than 4,000.
The enterprise, investment and innovation agency is now seeking a private sector partner and has gone out to tender with the proposal to run Aberdeen Science and Energy Park, opposite the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, and the science and technology park at Balgownie, Bridge of Don.
SE is working with agency Bidwells, which has worked on other similar projects in the UK, and aims to identify a private sector partner later this year. Staff who have worked to attract private sector investment to the highly successful Edinburgh Bioquarter project have also advised on the initiative.
David Littlejohn, director of industries and infrastructure at SE in Aberdeen City and Shire, said: "The parks are seen of national importance to Scotland's economy because of their capacity to drive growth and encourage the research and new products needed to ensure our energy industry continues to be a world-leader well into the future.
"They also a major part of the Energetica project to create a global hub for energy technology development.
"The existing buildings on the parks are almost fully occupied and there is strong demand for plots from companies looking to build their own premises so we expect the Joint Venture will be attractive to the private sector.
"The benefit of taking this approach is that it will secure long-term investment from the private sector which will bring greater value for the taxpayer. It will also bring greater marketing opportunities around the world, publicising our region as a great place to live, work and do business with an excellent quality of life."
The invitation to tender comes as work is well underway by SE to create an Energy Development Centre at Aberdeen Science and Energy Park to encourage innovation and turn research into marketable products. The first phase of the £4.4million research and development base at Aberdeen Science and Energy Park will provide 12 individual units and create the infrastructure needed for the second phase of 15 units.
The units will be made available on short-term, flexible leases to technology companies working on research, design and development in all energies and the building will be one of the first in Scotland to generate approximately half its power on site through biomass and wind power. It is already attracting considerable interest at a time of unprecedented demand for space at the Aberdeen Science Parks, with occupancy levels around the 95 per cent mark.
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