Mitsubishi has agreed to invest up to 100 million pounds (US$ 153 million) in a new wind turbine project in Britain, the government announced on Feb. 25.
Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding over the investment in a wind turbine research and development facility, said a statement from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
"The company intends to invest up to 100 million pounds in an offshore wind turbine project in the UK," Mitsubishi said, adding that the scheme would create up to 200 highly skilled jobs by 2014.
Mitsubishi added that it was looking at a number of sites in Britain to carry out research to build the turbine blades.
Subject to European Commission approval, the government hopes to provide grants of up to 30 million pounds to support the project with MPSE, whose parent company is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
"This project will be the first step towards the production of turbines for the next generation of offshore wind farms," the statement added.
"By working closely with Mitsubishi, the UK is a strong contender to be a manufacturing base for Mitsubishi in the future, which could create up to 1,500 new jobs."
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010
