SCOTTISH & Southern Energy (SSE) is stepping up its investment in wind farm development in China in what will be seen as a significant expansion of its operations into a key overseas market.
The Perth-based utility has revealed that it will open a research and development office in Beijing in autumn. It will be run by Craig Neill, director of business development for Asia, and James Yu, China business manager.
The team will focus on ADVERTISEMENTR&D, procurement of technology from Chinese companies to be used in the UK and the development of wind farms in Asia.
Ian Marchant, chief executive of SSE, said: "You can't ignore China. It is, for example, responsible for half the global increase in energy prices. I visited last year and noticed the sheer scale and diversity of the country and what it offers my industry."
He said the research work to be carried out in China and the building of wind farms will help SSE meet its target of cutting the amount of carbon dioxide produced per kilowatt hour of electricity at its power stations by 50%.
SSE refused to comment on how much was being invested in China, but said it would boost its progress towards building a 6,000MW renewable energy portfolio.
SSE's move to open an office builds on the foothold it gained in China through its acquisition of Dublin-based Airtricity in February.
Airtricity, which focuses on renewable energy, was already involved in developing wind farms in China.
