Today, SSE is marking yet another milestone in the development of its Irish business, as we welcome Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte to officiate at the opening of Red Oak, our new corporate headquarters and customer service centre located in the Ireland Development Authority’s South County Business Park, in south Dublin.
The event marks more than just the opening of a new office building but represents a further €20 million investment in our Irish business and is a clear symbol of our long-term commitment here.
A little over five years ago Gregor (Finance Director) and I were presented with a very interesting opportunity to buy Airtricity, a young and entrepreneurial renewable energy developer and electricity supplier headquartered inIreland. We jumped at the chance as it provided SSE with a solid foundation from which to grow inIreland, delivering high quality competitive products and services to customers there and investing in renewable energy as well. Five years on, was it the right deal for SSE?
Unequivocally, yes. In a few short years and from small beginnings SSE has emerged as the second largest energy generation and supply business in Ireland with a portfolio of businesses including renewable and thermal generation; electricity and gas supply; street lighting and energy services. We have also seen substantial business growth in the UK over the same period with notable milestones such as the official opening of both Greater Gabbard and Clyde wind farms.
Taken together, our investments inIrelandsince 2008 equate to €2 billion, or €1million every day over the past five years; and employment for 1,500 full and contract employees. Around 600 of these are currently working on the construction of the 460MW gas-fired electricity generation unit at Great Island, Co. Wexford due to be commissioned in 2014.
Key to SSE’s success inIrelandhas been our employees. Customer focused, we are continuously seeking new and bolder solutions that are transforming how we generate and deliver energy in a reliable, sustainable and competitive way. Now housed in the aptly named Red Oak, you could say we have transformed the acorn planted inIrelandfive years ago in to the solid flourishing business we have today.
As we celebrate the official opening of our new Ireland headquarters and customer service centre, as we showcase what is great about our business and as we look forward with purpose and confidence for our business in Ireland I am proud to say 'We're SSE'.