Oil and gas service firms have a chance to learn about diversification opportunities in the offshore wind sector at a conference in Aberdeen this week.
The two-day Offshore Wind and Supply Chain Conference, organised by industry body Scottish Renewables (SR), kicks off tomorrow. The event, at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, is expected to attract more than 900 representatives from global and local firms.
SR senior policy manager Lindsay Leask said: “Scottish engineers and scientists are renowned the world over as experts in the oil and gas sector, and with the right conditions in place, that reputation can easily be extended to renewables. The International Renewable Energy Agency predicted last week that 11million new renewables jobs could be created worldwide by 2030.
“In the north-east, the number of offshore wind jobs alone has doubled in a year – making the sector the area’s second largest renewables employer.”
Technip Offshore Wind senior vice-president Ron Cookson added: “With established expertise in the offshore oil and gas sector, Scotland is well-placed to develop a safe, effective and efficient offshore wind industry. However, the industry needs to borrow more than technical expertise, processes and assets from oil and gas.
“To make success a reality it needs to adopt similar working methods and attitudes, build networks and increase communication and collaboration. If we do this, we can collectively achieve our goals.”
SR says five major offshore wind projects which are currently awaiting planning consent in Scotland have the potential to power more than 3million homes.
Research carried out by the green lobby shows more than £160million has already been invested in the offshore wind sector in Scotland, ahead of any projects gaining planning consent.
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