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US Company to Build Low-Carbon Power Station in Grangemouth

A US power firm, Summit Power Group, has revealed plans to costruct a low-carbon, coal-fuelled power station in Grangemouth.

Summit Power Group is partnering with National Grid and Petrofac on the proposed development, which would include commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Utilising CCS technology could cut emissions by 90%, with carbon dioxide being piped to St Fergus in Aberdeenshire and then stored deep under the North Sea.

National Grid will engage in transporting the carbon dioxide, and Petrofac subsidiary CO2DeepStore will direct the North Sea storage procedure. Proximity to the North Sea and existing gas supply facilities were key factors in Grangemouth’s success in winning the investment.

A funding application for the project - the Caledonia Clean Energy Project – will be submitted to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) under the UK's CSS Delivery Competition.

Summit Power Group is a specialist in large-scale, low-carbon energy projects. The company is already developing a similar project in Texas, called the Texas Clean Energy Project. The Grangemouth site is likely to use similar carbon capture and storage techniques.

Alex Salmond welcomes further £630m investment in North Sea oil

Taqa, oil and gas operator, has invested more than one billion dollars of capital expenditure into the North Sea oil sector in the past three years, and will continue to spend money over the next two to three.

"Taqa continues to invest heavily in the future of its UK North Sea business, with capital expenditure for the next two years at broadly similar levels to 2010 and 2011," said Leo Koot, a managing director at Taqa.

The news was delivered during First Minister Alex Salmond's five-day trip around the Middle East’s oil-rich countries. Mr Salmond said the news of the investment illustrated a further boost to the North Sea oil industry, and as he toured the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, he expressed that links could be forged in renewable energy.

"This is further proof that there are opportunities for exploration and delivery which will take the industry forward for another 40 years,” Mr Koot continued. "This significant investment and the jobs it will bring will be a boost to growth in Scotland, and the company's ongoing commitment in the North Sea and the north east will have the added impact of boosting confidence in the sector."

An upcoming "framework for action" between Scotland and Masdar was also announced during the tour. "Masdar is pleased to partner with Scotland on a number of upcoming renewable energy initiatives,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chief executive of Masdar, "During First Minister Alex Salmond's visit today, we discussed a number of areas of collaboration and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months to move these ideas forward.” He added, "Scotland is a leading player in the renewable energy field and we are delighted to combine our knowledge and experience through this mutual and beneficial partnership."

Mr Salmond is scheduled to visit a Heriot-Watt University campus in Dubai this week, and discussions on infrastructure investment in Scotland have arisen from the tour.

Scottish Enterprise announces quarterly RSA figures

Scottish Enterprise has provided details of a £7 million jobs boost for the Scottish economy in its quarterly report on Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding, published 28th April.

The report, which outlines RSA grants accepted between January and March 2010, shows that RSA funding totalling £6,990,000 was accepted by 24 businesses during the last quarter, signifying the planned creation of 534 new jobs for Scotland, and safeguarding a further 283 jobs.

The biggest beneficiary from a sectoral view is the Scottish manufacturing industry, which will receive £4,485,000; equivalent to 64% of total RSA offered during the last period. This funding has been awarded to 15 manufacturing companies across Scotland and will see the creation of 272 new jobs in the sector and safeguard a further 258 jobs.

From a regional perspective, Ayrshire has been the main beneficiary, receiving £2,466,000 of funding which will see local firms create 90 new jobs and safeguard an additional 117. This strong regional result is partly due to the offer of £1,980,000 to local aerosol manufacturer Barony Universal Products Ltd.

RSA funding will also bring a significant jobs boost to Dalgety Bay in Fife. This coastal town, with an average population of 10,000, will see 77 new manufacturing jobs created after two local companies, Forth Dimension Displays and KDM Shopfitting & Joinery Ltd, collectively accepted almost £1 million of RSA funding during the last quarter.

Commenting on the report, Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “RSA funding is one of the key tools we have to encourage both indigenous and foreign companies to invest in Scotland. It is particularly encouraging to see new jobs being created in regions such as Ayrshire and Fife.

“By promoting RSA to Scottish and international organisations, Scottish Enterprise will continue its mission to play a key role in growing the economy, creating new jobs and helping our companies to innovate and become more globally competitive.”

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said: “Investment in new jobs can help secure a strong and sustained economic recovery. The latest RSA report shows companies in Scotland are continuing to expand, with the planned creation or safeguarding of more than 800 jobs.

“It is particularly encouraging to see RSA support for a number of manufacturing ventures. This follows a 2.9 per cent real terms increase in manufactured exports in the fourth quarter of 2009 and last week’s news that the Scottish economy is out of recession – welcome evidence of improved economic conditions.

“Through our comprehensive Economic Recovery Plan, the Scottish Government will continue to pursue all opportunities to boost job creation and help ambitious businesses in Scotland go from strength to strength.”

Read the full RSA quarterly report.

Rapeseed oil producer wins ASDA deal

An Aberdeenshire producer of gourmet rapeseed oil has won a contract to supply Asda just three months after setting up in business.

Read the full article on the Scotsman website.

Sigma Offshore secures funding worth £4m

Aberdeen-based mooring provider Sigma Offshore has secured £4 million of funding.

Read the full article on the Scotsman website.