This year’s All-Energy show in Aberdeen has been another record breaker.
The 10th annual event, which ended yesterday, is the UK’s largest renewable-energy exhibition.
The two-day gathering at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre gets bigger every year. This time, it attracted more than 6,900 people from around the world: a jump of about 25% on last year’s 5,500.
There were also more than 450 exhibiting companies from 16 countries, against 380 from 14 countries last year.
Exhibitors from Scotland said they were delighted at how the event went, as were the organisers.
Event director Jamie Thompson said: “We are obviously very happy and we will be looking to have an even bigger show in 2011.
“Next year, we will be aiming at a similar jump in visitor numbers, but we would be happy with a 10% rise.
“As regards exhibitor numbers, we would like to get near the 500 mark.”
This year’s show was so big, it outgrew the Press and Journal Arena and a temporary building was needed to house some exhibitors.
Mr Thompson said the continued increase in the size of the show meant that an even bigger temporary building would be needed in 2011.
A first-time visitor to the show yesterday was Aberdeen businessman Sir Ian Wood, chairman of energy service giant Wood Group.
He found the exhibition impressive and said renewables was a very exciting opportunity for the Aberdeen area.
Ken Gray, chief executive at Cromarty Firth Port Authority, said: “This is the best All-Energy exhibition that I have attended. We have seen a positive interest primarily in offshore wind, as well as wave and tidal sectors and how we can assist these industries through the use of our facilities.
“I am heartened by the increase in exhibitors and the quality of attendees at this year’s show.”
North Scotland Industries Group chief executive Ian Couper said: “It is encouraging to see the number of exhibitors has increased yet again and the quality of the show continues to improve.
“Once again, our stand has been extremely well attended, with people wanting to know more about the group and the benefits of membership. All-Energy is an excellent opportunity for companies throughout the area to network and promote their businesses in this important market.”
Gary Wilson, business-development director at Ferguson Modular, part of Inverurie-based Ferguson Group, said: “We see real potential for the Ferguson Group as the renewables sector expands, particularly providing accommodation solutions for offshore windfarms. We have several contracts within the renewables industry at present, and look forward to expanding this further.
“All-Energy has grown significantly over the years and is increasingly a priority for us as a way to tell the market about our range of products, including our accommodation support vessel.
“We have been very impressed by the number of people visiting our stand and the inquiries we have had and would hope to see new work as a result.”
Hydro Group managing director Doug Whyte said: “Marine renewables is a key focus for Hydro, not only in the UK, but also internationally, as other countries’ governments commit considerable financial support to their own energy strategies.
“It has been a very positive show with a number of potential future business leads.
“It is vital that there are opportunities like the busy All-Energy show for companies to showcase innovative products.”
Hydro is an Aberdeen-based supplier of optical and electrical products to the subsea technology sector.
Alistair Birnie, chief executive of industry body Subsea UK, said: “It was a very vibrant show and there was a lot of positive talk about opportunities for the subsea and renewable sectors to work together to secure the future of UK’s energy supply chain.”
Lyn Cowie, a director with Deloitte in Aberdeen, said: “This has been an extremely busy and productive show, with a great deal of business being conducted across the spectrum of exhibitors.
“A hugely important event for the Scottish renewables industry, the diversity among the participating companies is a clear endorsement of the sector’s global reach.”
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