On a pro-rata basis, Dundee and Methil’s Energy Park Fife could expect to share more than 3500 jobs as new companies come on stream to provide the infrastructure necessary for the development of offshore wind turbines.

Dundee and Methil have well-established port facilities and Dundee also has a history of offshore fabrication work for the oil industry.

The other sites selected by Scottish Enterprise are Leith, Nigg, Hunterston, Aberdeen, Arnish, Campbeltown, Ardesier, Kishorn and Peterhead.

The employment figures come from a BWEA report that estimates in its best case scenario the UK as a whole will benefit from 57,000 new jobs through wind turbines.

Scottish Renewables, the organisation set up to drive forward Scotland’s sustainable energy programme, has calculated around a third of this could come to Scotland.

Scottish Renewables is more conservative in its estimates of Dundee and Methil’s share of the jobs since it is not yet clear if they will be spread evenly across the 11 sites.

Jenny Hogan, senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said, “Our seas are on course to deliver a massive boost in green energy and jobs, and this (Scottish Enterprise) report shows Scotland is well placed to be at the helm of this global industry.

“Over 11 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity has been earmarked for development off Scotland’s shores by 2020, slashing our carbon emissions by over a quarter.

“This could create around 20,000 jobs, including hundreds at Methil and Dundee if the facilities there receive the investment they need.

“For Scotland to reap the rewards, the industry now needs significant investment in supporting supply chain and grid infrastructure. There is still huge uncertainty about the emerging marine planning and offshore transmission regimes.

“Scotland needs a clear, supportive regulatory framework if these projects are to deliver clean, green energy and thousands of jobs over the next decade.”

Although Dundee played second fiddle to Aberdeen when it came to the oil industry, a number of companies, such as the former Kestrel Marine, were still built on the back of the North Sea boom.

The city has a large, skilled workforce with experience in the engineering industry.

Scottish Enterprise identified Dundee as one of its 11 chosen sites in a report published last week. Its National Renewable Infrastructure Plan is the first step in developing a strategy for the creation of renewables infrastructure.

Although it is at an early stage, the Scottish Government hopes the plan will lead to the country gaining the necessary expertise to manufacture its own offshore infrastructure which would lead to construction and maintenance jobs being created and retained rather than brought in through overseas experts.