With delegations flying in from locations as diverse as South Korea, the Americas, India, China, our European neighbours, Shetland, London and Banchory, this year’s All-Energy show in Aberdeen has the makings of another record-breaker.
UK Government policy remains in a bit of a mess and money is tight, but still the momentum builds to source our energy needs in a more responsible manner.
And, in the case of maritime energy . . . wind, wave and tidal . . . promoters and developers of new generation renewable are increasingly capitalising on the hugely relevant expertise built up by the offshore oil and gas industry over more than 40 years in the North Sea and since the early 1950s in the US Gulf of Mexico.
It is for this very reason that All-Energy was created at the dawn of the current millennium and very specifically in Aberdeen which, for readers less familiar with the North Sea’s staggering engineering pedigree, is the number one upstream offshore oil and gas centre in the world outside the global capital Houston and easily the best place in the UK for the maritime energy world to spark-off . . . learn from one another.
And it is for this reason that Aberdeen also hosts one of the world’s top three offshore oil and gas conventions and is indeed celebrating the 40th anniversary of Offshore Europe in September.
Both events are today run by Reed Exhibitions and are in many ways complementary. Moreover, the All-Energy brand has spread to other parts of the world.
While wind will invariably dominate . . . both off- and onshore . . . because it is the most mature of the various large-scale sustainable energy technologies available aside from traditional hydropower, this year’s All-Energy will have a very large wave and tidal presence.
Indeed, nearly 210 companies out of a total of 580 firms due to exhibit, have placed themselves firmly on the wave and tidal trail on the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre show floor; plus there will be some 15 hours of the main conference devoted to wave and tidal energy.
Moreover, the show floor wave and tidal innovation technology showcase area has a strong programme that features a stack of device developers, apparently at least 18 of them, from the UK, Norway, Australia and so-forth. Even the Russians are expected to pitch in.
For the first time, there is a technology showcase seminar theatre on the exhibition floor (situated within the Highlands and Islands and Orkney area of the show) where quick-fire wave and tidal updates will be provided.
This should appeal to show-goers who feel that they don’t have the time to devote to All-Energy’s huge and multi-parallel session conference schedule.
But just in case you think that All-Energy is focused only offshore, it is important to note that a large chunk of the show is devoted to onshore technologies and challenges. This should have huge appeal for the agricultural and other rural communities, not forgetting the huge importance of sustainable energy in the urban context.
The Press & Journal will be reporting throughout the show through its business pages, Energy Voice website and will provide the show daily news service.
See you there on May 22-23.
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