A DUMBARTON business is to create 23 new jobs as part of its £33million investment in its facility in the town.

Power supply firm Aggreko, which is the global leader in the rental of power and temperature control systems, currently employs 240 of its 502 Scotland-based workers at its Lomondgate site.

Scottish enterprise awarded the company a £1.5million research and development grant for three projects, which will see the company make the investment and create the jobs.

Last week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the Lomondgate facility to see the work of Aggreko’s Future Technology Project.

She said: “Our aspiration is for Scotland to once again be the inventor and manufacturer of the innovations that shape the future.

“That is why our Programme for Government saw business R&D grants boosted by 70 per cent. Therefore, I am delighted this funding is having an impact on firms like Aggreko, setting the pace for ambitious, innovative businesses all over the country.

“With 23 highly skilled jobs being created in Dumbarton and significant investment by the company, it is hugely encouraging that Aggreko regard Scotland as the perfect place for them to grow their business.

“As our new energy strategy sets out, it is crucial that we find new ways to ensure energy is produced efficiently, and integrates renewable and low carbon technology – as is the case with these developments by Aggreko.”

Aggreko is to design and build a new range of power generators, which are more efficient, have significantly lower emissions and utilise cheaper and alternative fuels.

The three projects supported by the grant seek to expand the use of solar-diesel hybrid energy storage products, develop new methods to use waste heat to provide additional energy and create more energy-efficient diesel and gas fuel solutions.

Chris Weston, CEO of Aggreko, welcomed the investment from Scottish Enterprise.

He added: “Power generation and energy markets are going through a fundamental change and businesses, organisations and governments across the globe are having to respond rapidly to this changing energy landscape.”

Martin Docherty-Hughes, SNP MP for West Dunbartonshire, said: “Scotland is at the forefront of developing low carbon energy technologies which have the potential to bring significant environmental and employment benefits to our local communities.”

Dumbarton’s MP Jackie Baillie also welcomed the announcement, saying: “Aggreko have been the supplier for major worldwide events covering everything from presidential inaugurations to the current Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, and they have already been selected as the supplier for the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.

“I look forward to Aggreko continuing to grow their business, opening up new markets for their products.”