Offshore wind has featured on the conference programme at All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference, since the very first show in February 2001 here in Aberdeen.
This year it is high up the conference agenda at the 21st anniversary show at SEC Glasgow on 11 and 12 May along with the major exhibition through which innovation runs like a golden thread; and an exciting feature programme.
No sooner does the opening plenary session featuring the First Minister of Scotland, the UK Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, the Country Chair of Shell UK, the CEO of Ofgem, chaired by the CEO of ScottishPower come to an end than the 600+-seater auditorium will be full again for the first of five conference sessions on offshore wind, sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn.
The first session ‘Looking back to look forward’ considers the two major leasing rounds that have been completed in the past 12 months and with an eye on future rounds will discuss ‘Was Round 4 too long awaited?’, ‘Was ScotWind too ambitious?’ and then moves on to consider the grid, permitting, the supply chain, the market and technology with panellists from SSE Renewables, ScottishPower Renewables, bp, SSEN Transmission, Siemens Gamesa, the Port of Cromarty Firth, and RIDG. A real ‘getting under the skin’ session, doing what All-Energy does so well, help its audience increase their knowledge.
Next comes a deeper dive into ‘Supply chain and skills: Opportunities and challenges’ -yet another highly knowledgeable panel only too eager to update their audience. “Then, we come to a highly topical session,” explained Jonathan Heastie, Portfolio Director, Energy & Marine at RX Global who own and organise All-Energy. “Ofgem approached us asking if we would hold a session on the Offshore Transmission Network Review. There was only one answer possible – “Yes!”.
“So, we have 90 minutes of discussion involving BEIS with an overview of offshore transmission and the review; Ofgem covering ‘Building regulatory policy to support the offshore network’; National Grid ESO considering ‘Why offshore coordination is important, and its challenges – Holistic Network Design’; with developer Ocean Winds sharing their view on ‘What the offshore transmission regime needs to do to facilitate early delivery of renewables. Surely a ’must attend’ session in an unmissable day!”
Two sessions on floating wind – ‘The road ahead’; and ‘Opportunities and challenges’ follow on day 2; and the Offshore Wind show floor theatre is home to over 20 compelling quick fire presentations. Jonathan Heastie is quick to point out that there is more to All-Energy and the co-located Dcarbonise with its 450+ speakers, and hundreds of exhibitors:. “Our feature programme includes ‘Meet the Developer’ offering the opportunity to have 1-2-1 meetings with nine offshore wind developers, to see if your company could fit into their supply chain .
“There is a new feature that really excites me. Future Talent is hugely important to all of us as we strive towards meeting our net zero ambitions. This year our duo of shows boast more youthful focus than ever before. The new Future Talent Hub, sponsored by bp and supported by Skills Development Scotland, features a programme of sessions focussed around attracting new and re-skilled resource and talent to power an accelerated net zero future. Check it out on our show floor theatre programme. Complementing it is the Energy Skills Partnership-coordinated ‘Green Skills for a Net Zero Future’ demonstration area showing how colleges are equipping their students for the exciting time that lies ahead.”
Registration for all elements of All-Energy and Dcarbonise is free of charge and online at www.all-energy.co.uk/EV
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