By Scott Wright

AGGREKO has revealed plans to invest £4.5 million to upgrade its production facility in Dumbarton.

The investment is part of the temporary power generator’s ambitions to become net zero in terms of the carbon emissions from its own operations by 2030. It has a wider plan to become fully net zero by 2050, a strategy announced in November.

Aggreko’s plans for Dumbarton will see the London-listed firm consolidate its three sites in the town into one. Three hundred people employed by Aggreko in Dumbarton will be brought under its site at Lomondgate Park, which will be expanded and transformed into a “future energy hub”.

All diesel will be replaced with low-emission HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil), and surplus power generated during production tests of Next Generation Gas gensets will be exported back to back to the national grid, Aggreko noted. The company noted that smart battery storage and LED lighting systems will be used to improve energy efficiency at the site.

Aggreko has acquired land next to the Lomondgate site to fulfil its plans, which will also see a state of the art rental depot added to its existing manufacturing facility. The land is owned by Strathleven Regeneration CIC.

Aine Finlayson, director of manufacturing at Aggreko, said: “Our Dumbarton facility sits at the heart of everything we do around the world, and is driven by the amazing team of people who work there. This investment is a demonstration of our commitment to our team and the local area, and making sure that we are continuing to produce the high-quality, reliable and greener products that our customers expect.

“We continue to look for ways to enhance the value that the site brings to the business and the local community. Scotland is on an exciting journey towards Net Zero and we want to be part of that.”

Aggreko last week announced a revised deal to supply power to this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, which will now generate revenue of $315m for the company.