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Masterplan to create global energy park

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Published Date: 28 February 2008
By FRANK URQUHART
AMBITIOUS plans unveiled yesterday could transform a 30-mile stretch of north-east Scotland into a world centre for energy companies.
The A90 corridor between Aberdeen and the Buchan town of Peterhead is one of the most underdeveloped parts of the region. But the Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum (ACSEF) has appointed a leading urban design company to produce a masterplan to turn the area into a global showcase for green energy companies and related firms operating in the wider energy industries.

The development, dubbed "Energetica", would be along similar lines to Sophia Antipolis, the computing and electronics technology park in the south of France.





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  • Last Updated: 27 February 2008 9:37 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Ard Righ,

The Rock Of Edinburgh 28/02/2008 00:11:20
Let me guess...... they'll be using nuclear and diesel power to build such a site and run it - initially- to what end ?

Government needs to put money in R&D into over unity devices. WAKE UP.
2

Richard Taylor,

Aberdeen 28/02/2008 07:20:42
ANOTHER big project that will end up in wrnagling & gathering dust in Cooncil archives.

I could write a book on the number of projects PLANNED for Aiberdeen...NONE of which have come to anything:

Torry Waterfront, Haudigain, Br of Dee, 3rd Don crossing, St Nick Hoose/Marischal College, & on it goes.........................
3

Isonomia,

Lenzie 28/02/2008 07:35:34
This park will end up as one small company with home windmills on the roof (not all working) and the rest being the "firms operating in the wider energy industries." (i.e. oil)

Whilst I applaud Aberdeen's enthusiasm for renewables, particularly their renewable energy exhibition supporting a handful of UK engineering companys, when I went to the Husum wind energy exhibition and saw the hundreds maybe thousands of German, Danish and Spanish companies that aren't begging for a few scraps like the British, but actually making a killing from selling windturbines to the British, I realised that Scotland hasn't a hope in hell of getting any significant number of real jobs from renewables whilst we still have the same numpties running the show (I mean enterprise policy).
4

Unimpressed one,

28/02/2008 08:21:34
"The development, dubbed "Energetica", would be along similar lines to Sophia Antipolis, the computing and electronics technology park in the south of France."

Hardly a fair comparison. At least the technology park in France contributes something useful to their economy. A "energy park" here would be full of eco-nuts promoting their skewed fanasties concerning power generation.
5

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 28/02/2008 08:41:08
Nice idea, but untill we are able to wrest control of the tax levers from Westminster how are you going to create incentives for companies to want to come their.
Company Exec "Now Ireland has a 20% corporate tax rate and lifetime royalty exemptions and the other choice is Scotland, they have a business park. Oh boy this is a tough decision"
6

WJohn,

Wonderland 28/02/2008 09:48:59
Surely a "leading urban design company" designs towns or cities.
And what is a "wider energy industry"
And for "underdeveloped" read unspoiled.
Otherwise it will be an ideal location for solar and tidal power conversion projects.
However I am sure that they will need far more resources and investment in order to ensure that this development has a world standard VIP hospitality suite.
7

Sprauncy,

Aberdeenshire - the place to be. 28/02/2008 11:13:00
Well 1 to 6, I have never see such concentrated negativity! Perhaps this is why things do not get done?

I was pleased to read the article, but now feel depressed after reading all your constructive comments!

Do not be despondent, it's not good for your self-image, try writing to the Government and the Council offering to help (Not what can your Country do for you, but what can you do for your Country; type of attitude).

8

zeno,

GLASGOW 28/02/2008 12:31:40
Ard Righ said: "Government needs to put money in R&D into over unity devices. WAKE UP."

Once someone has created an over-unity device that actually works, then it may be appropriate for public money to be put into it. Wake me up when that happens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_unity
9

Richard Taylor,

Aberdeen 28/02/2008 13:05:11
What can I do for a bankrupt incompetent council that wastes the city's money & turned the "oil capital of the NE" into a laughing stock?????

Where ideas NEVER come to fruition???

Where we have a supposedly wealthy city that is closing schools, nursery places, leisure facilities, workshop for the blind & visually impaired, has roads chocked with traffic due to underinvestment down the decades??????????

A city that is just one big talking shop, WHERE NOTHING EVER GETS BL00DY DONE???????????
10

Neil Pwan,

Peterhead 28/02/2008 15:25:59
Perhaps any potential development which comes from this initiative won't be carried out to the exacting timescales of the captains of industry who have reacted so positively(!) so far to this news item; but
lets not lose sight of the effort already underway by the likes of Glenn Jones who currently intends investing £50m in Peterhead
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7241099.stm
and the Port Authority £32m, to consolidate existing trade and pave the way for future expansion at Peterhead Bay.
Don't forget also the formation of a consortium of Peterhead businesses who recently formed Peterhead Decommissioning Ltd. to pursue a portion of a forthcoming lucrative industry.
Peterhead is definately OPEN FOR BUSINESS - and warmly welcomes any Government funded initiative to expedite trade.
11

Sprauncy,

Aberdeenshire - the place to be. 28/02/2008 15:27:22
#9 There is no one stopping you getting involved?
12

Mark Chinery,

Peterhead 28/02/2008 19:11:20
It never fails to amaze me how negative some people can be to new ideas and initiatives. I'm unsure whether any of you have ever made the effort to proactively involve yourselves in shaping your communities but I think not.

The port and town of Peterhead present challenges, yes. They also provide opportunities. A diversified and a prosperous economy can only be a good thing for the people of the north east and the wider Scotland.

The Trump project goes to an enquiry now. A multi-multi million pound development just down the road. This has the potential to kickstart the wider north-east tourism industry (we also have a few golf courses up here which may benefit) and provide employment to more than a few. But we realise we cannot rely on tourism or fishing anymore as the sole provider of growth.

So, to all you 'captains of industry' (thanks Neil), with all of your negativities, we would hope, and expect, to prove you all wrong.

For more information on Peterhead, trials, tribulations and opportunities, I'd invite you to visit www.peterheadonline.com for a little more education.

Let's hope that the new Government is brave enough to invest a little more in the north east. With regard to the National Planning Framework - 8 projects between Edinburgh and Glasgow plus one in Shetland. The obvious, I hear you say?

Let's see some imagination and a little risk taking here - it's what Scotland has historically provided, to good effect. I hope politicians do not also fall prey to, or are weakly influenced by, your general defeatism.
13

Richard Taylor,

Aberdeen - city of negativity 05/03/2008 07:21:25
Politics = Defeatism. Politicians or council officials won't do anything if they can get away with it, especially if it means spending m-o-n-e-y.

Hence Aberdeen is one big talking shop.

Where is the Torry waterfront development? The beach development?

In Room 176 in council chambers, on the 2nd shelf from the right...if you can seem them through all the dust.

 

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