The new Offshore Wind Technology Centre  located at Strathclyde Business Park, is employing around 40 engineers, a further 60 expected by the year end. Spain-based Gamesa hopes to employ 180 staff at the site within three years as the company accelerates development of its new G14X-6/7.0MW offshore wind turbine.

The Centre opening marked the close of the Scottish government's Low Carbon Investment conference which launched £35m fund to support the production of new offshore wind technologies, and finance  for wave energy firm Aquamarine Power.

Jorge Calvet, chairman and CEO of Gamesa (rigiht) said that the new facility underlined the company's commitment to the offshore wind sector, and will "generate significant local, skilled and sustainable jobs over the coming years."

Gamesa signed a strategic research partnership agreement with the University of Strathclyde to launch a "research cluster" for wind energy
systems as part of the university's Doctoral Training.