GAMESA Energy UK has established a new headquarters at Newport's Celtic Springs Business Park.

The operation is a subsidiary of Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica, one of Spain's largest companies and a world leader in wind turbines.

Like a number of international firms, it has spotted the UK government's ambitious targets for renewable energy and realised "there's gold in them there hills".

The firm has employed seven people at its Newport headquarters to manage its windfarm portfolio.

Gamesa's UK development director, Matt Part-ridge, said the company expects operations in this country to be very successful.

"Wind energy is a very important part of Wales' and the UK's plans to reduce the threat of climate change, bringing with it clean, safe energy and the prospect of investment and jobs."

The site of the new offices is a 22,000 sq ft development built by Robert Hitchins.

Roger Thomas, chairman of Cooke & Arkwright, which acted jointly with Linnells for Robert Hitchens, said he was delighted to have attracted an international company like Gamesa.

"We are very pleased the firm has decided to establish its UK headquarters at Cedar Court," he said.

"The quality of office accommodation was a key factor, as was its close proximity to the M4 and the airports at Cardiff and Bristol.

"These are used frequently by Gamesa personnel and associates travelling between the UK and Spain."

Gamesa corporation's renewable energy business employs 5,000 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of around 1.3 billon euros.