Dundee’s potential as a hub for renewable energy has been underlined after one of the country’s leading civil engineering firms opened new premises in the city.
Construction and renewable energy firm Kilmac opened its new base on Friday.
It will house Kilmac Renewables, as well as the company’s property acquisition arm.
Co-founder and director Richard Kilcullen expects the workforce to treble from 10 to 30 by next year.
“We have started with 10 staff based in Dundee, five of whom are new employees, and we plan to grow the Renewables team to over 30 by 2015,” he said.
“Dundee has always been an important market for our construction company and this is an important factor in our decision process to locate in Dundee.
“The city’s support for renewables and ambitions to become a renewables hub also played an important part in our decision.
“We now operate over every region in Scotland and into the north of England.”
While renewable construction projects currently make up 10% of turnover, he hopes their impact can grow considerably over the next two years.
“In 2014 we anticipate that figure rising to 30%, and in 2015 as much as 60%,” said Mr Kilcullen.
“This is due to our increasing market share in wind and hydro installations based on reputation for quality, service and reliability.
“It is also due to the installation of our own renewables assets for our development company Kilmac Energy.”
City council leader Ken Guild and Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick officially opened the new office on Dunsinane Industrial Estate.
The new site will work alongside Kilmac’s existing base in Perth.
“I am delighted that Kilmac has decided to open an office in Dundee,” Mr Guild said. “It is most appropriate that a confident and expanding company has chosen a confident and expanding city as a base for diversification.”
Mr FitzPatrick said the move was a vote of confidence in the local workforce.
“The sustainable and efficient well-founded heating systems that Kilmac is delivering will help us to meet carbon emission reduction targets as well as cut energy bills, and the industry offers huge opportunities for jobs in construction and the forest supply sector,” he said.
Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sandra Burke added: “Kilmac has made a tremendous impact across Scotland in its first decade in business, and we’re delighted that they are now opening an office in the city.”
Kilmac has been Dundee FC’s shirt sponsors since 2010 and completed the refurbishment of Dundee City Square last year. The company currently employs more than 100 people.