THE Scottish government has announced more than £8 million from its Just Transition Fund will be ploughed into four energy projects.

First Minister John Swinney made the announcement today ahead of opening the Energy Transition Skills Hub at North East Scotland College in Aberdeen, a collaboration between the college, Shell and Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone (ETZ).

He said: “Supported by £4.5 million of Scottish government funding, this centre of excellence will prepare local young people for the highly skilled jobs and opportunities of the future in the renewable energy industry.”

The ETZ remains controversial, however, facing widespread opposition in the working-class Aberdeen neighbourhood of Torry, which faces losing one its few remaining green spaces, St Fittick’s Park, to the project.

Aberdeen TUC President Tommy Campbell told the Star: “The Aberdeen TUC is fully supportive of the Save St Fittick’s Park campaign.

“The Scottish government would be better off giving some of that money to the local community in Torry to improve and preserve St Fittick’s Park instead of giving taxpayers’ money to rich multinational companies.”