John Swinney vows to work with GB Energy on ‘unrivalled opportunity’ of renewables

The Scottish Government will “work constructively” with GB Energy, John Swinney has said after it was confirmed the agency will be based in Aberdeen.

The First Minister said Scotland has an “unrivalled opportunity in renewable energy” and he has held detailed discussions with GB Energy chairman Juergen Maier.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made the widely-anticipated announcement that Aberdeen will be home to the agency during his speech to the Labour conference on Tuesday.

Mr Swinney was asked about the news after visiting the River Leven restoration project in Fife on Wednesday.

He told the PA news agency he understands GB Energy will be an “enabler of developments” and he welcomed the decision to have its headquarters in the Granite City.

Mr Swinney said: “We will work constructively with GB Energy to maximise the benefit for Scotland arising out of this development.

“We have in Scotland an unrivalled opportunity in renewable energy.

“We’ve got a pipeline of investments that the Government in Scotland is authorising. We’re working with a variety of different companies who have taken forward this activity and will work with communities to do likewise.

“Obviously, there are opportunities to partner with GB Energy and take forward some of these projects, and we remain very open to do so.

“Indeed, I spent quite a lot of time last week engaging in detailed discussion with GB Energy about how we would take that forward.”

He said Scottish ministers will make decisions “very shortly” which will give life to the country’s renewable potential, saying he wants to make it “crystal clear” that investment is welcome.