Dundee bidding to host GB Energy

Councillors argue the city is already at the heart of the energy transition

Dundee is among a number of cities that have been touted as potential hosts
Author: Kieran BrandPublished 26th Jul 2024

Dundee is bidding to host the headquarters of the new state-owned company, Great British Energy.

Councillors will be putting forward the city’s case for hosting the firm, saying it is already at the heart of the energy transition.

If successful it would create jobs and bring investment into the region.

Convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth & Infrastructure, Steven Rome, said there were compelling arguments for bringing it to Dundee.

He is writing to Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom, to set out the city’s “impressive” proposition.

Councillor Rome said today: “Dundee is already at the heart of the country’s transition to clean energy.

“There’s the renewables hub at the Port of Dundee and the great work going on at MSIP to innovate in sustainable mobility and create the workforce we’ll need in the future, to give just a couple of examples.

“We’ve got impressive strengths across academia, business and climate leadership which would make us the idea home for GB Energy.”

Depute Convener Councillor Siobhan Tolland added: “Dundee currently has less than its fair share of UK Government jobs, and we need strategic support to grow our economy for the future.

“A lasting commitment like this would complement and consolidate the successful employability work that has already happened to date helping people into employment and retaining wealth within the city."

The UK Government has said it plans to allocate £8.3 billion towards GB Energy, with an initial focus on offshore wind.

Labour says the company would help ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy.

It added it will confirm the exact location in Scotland for GB Energy’s headquarters “in due course”.

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