Land Energy Girvan to invest £6.4m in South Ayrshire site
Land Energy Girvan is to invest £6.4 million expanding its South Ayrshire site.
The York-based company, which operates an integrated wood pellet production and combined heat and power plant in Girvan, said the investment will see it create 10 new jobs and will safeguard a further 28 in the Scottish supply chain.
Scottish Enterprise is supporting the expansion with a £250,000 Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant.
Land Energy Girvan, which manufactures ‘Woodlets’ biomass wood pellets for the renewable energy industry, said the new investment will include a new condenser and extension of the dryer, an upgrade to the pellet line and additional on-site storage facilities.
The company said the expansion will see it increase pellet production from 60,000 tonnes a year to 90,000 tonnes and it forecasts the expanded operation will increase annual turnover by 50 per cent
John Westmacott, managing director of Land Energy Girvan Ltd, said: “The UK premium wood pellet market has grown rapidly in the last five years and is now worth £100 million per annum.
“The new investment in the Girvan plant will ensure that Land Energy continues to be a leading player in this market as it continues to grow.”
Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “Scotland is home to a thriving and innovative business sector and I’m delighted that Land Energy Girvan Limited are investing in a £6.4 million expansion of their site.
“This welcome investment is projected to create 10 new jobs and safeguard 28 existing jobs in the Scottish supply-chain supporting generation of renewable, biomass energy, and will reduce biomass customers’ reliance on imported wood pellet supplies.
“The RSA grant award we have made is a tribute to the success of the team at Girvan, supported and enabled by Scottish Enterprise, and it demonstrates our commitment to make Scotland as competitive a place to do business as possible.”
