Marubeni Europower has opened its first office in Glasgow, following the signing of a a Memorandum of Understanding with Scottish Enterprise this time last year at COP26.
The investment in new premises will allow the Japanese corporation to drive forward its work to support Scotland’s journey to net zero, according to a statement.
It has taken a couple of floors at Sutherland House, 149 St Vincent Street.
The opening coincides with Net Zero and Energy Secretary Michael Matheson meeting with Marubeni executives in Tokyo this week, as part of a five-day programme of engagements with Japanese energy companies and stakeholders, designed to deepen collaboration and drive further investment in Scotland’s renewable energy revolution.
Part of the consortium for ScotWind’s floating offshore wind project, the Marubeni team is working with SSE Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to develop what will become one of the world’s largest floating offshore wind farms off the east coast of Scotland.
The company is also at the heart of a hydrogen project in Glasgow that aims to establish a green energy hub to supply power to local users, including Scottish Event Campus.
Matheson said: “Scotland has the people, the skills and natural resources to become a global leader in renewable and low carbon energy - from delivering ScotWind to accelerating low carbon technologies such as hydrogen, our energy transition presents enormous potential.“
David Rennie, head of low carbon energy at Scottish Enterprise said: “Scotland has strong trade and investment links with Japan, particularly in key sectors such as renewable energy.
“The opening of Marubeni Europower’s new premises in Glasgow marks an important milestone in further strengthening our valued relationship with the company and its support for Scotland’s net zero ambitions.”
Tomoki Nishino, president and chief executive of Marubeni Europower, said: “As a developer of the Scottish offshore wind project Ossian and green hydrogen project in Glasgow, it is extremely important for us to reach out to the stakeholders and citizens of Scotland and listen to their voices.
“Our members in Glasgow are proudly committed to contribute to achieving Scotland’s net zero ambitions by delivering these significant low carbon projects, together with our friends in Scotland.”
Japan is one of Scotland’s biggest inward investors, with more than 100 Japanese-owned companies based in the country.
Scottish Enterprise’s international trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International, has trade and investment specialists based in Tokyo, promoting economic opportunities across sectors such as low-carbon, life science and food and drink.
The Marubeni Corporation is a global trading company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
It has 132 branches - 12 in Japan, 56 overseas and 29 overseas corporate subsidiaries - with 315 subsidiaries and 148 affiliated companies. The company employs 4,379 with a wider group of workforce of more than 46,000.
Marubeni is involved in the handling of products and provision of services in sectors including food, textiles, materials, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals and mineral resources and transportation machinery.
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