Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg) will today urge Scotland to reinforce its status as a global energy leader by capitalising on China’s flourishing renewables industry.
Areg and its members have already identified China – fifth in the world for installed wind energy – as a priority market.
Areg renewables champion Iain Todd will tell delegates on the opening day of the All-Energy show in Aberdeen why it is vital to seize the substantial business opportunities in China.
He says: “China is the fastest growing market in installed wind energy and there is little doubt that it is working towards becoming the dominant nation in this sector as it currently is in other renewable technologies such as solar thermal and solar photovoltaic.
“As in many sectors, plans and projects in China are on a scale which tends to dwarf activities elsewhere, but Scotland should see this as a significant opportunity to demonstrate and capitalise on its wealth of capabilities.
“One of the most exciting opportunities is China’s plans for offshore windfarms where, if acted upon quickly, Scottish expertise could have a central part to play.”
All-Energy – the UK’s largest renewable-energy exhibition and conference – gets under way this morning. The two-day event will feature 370-plus exhibitors from 13 countries at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
More than 4,500 people have registered to attend.
Scotland Office minister Ann McKechin will open the conference with a speech outlining the UK Government’s support for renewable energy before introducing Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, who will address the gathering via videolink.
A record number of Highlands and Islands businesses – 45 in total – will showcase the best of the region’s talent at All-Energy.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise will be exhibiting alongside north companies on the HI-energy pavilion.
The Orkney pavilion will feature seven of the islands’ businesses.
Gareth Davies, chairman of Orkney Renewable Energy Forum, said: “Development activity in the Pentland Firth is expected to bring huge economic benefits to Orkney, Scotland and the UK as a whole. The All-Energy exhibition provides a great platform for Orkney-based organisations to showcase their wealth of experience, technologies and facilities aimed at delivering UK and international targets for renewables.”
Several local businesses will be featured on the Aberdeenshire Council stand.
Dane Wilkins, a director from Ernst and Young’s renewable-energy team in Scotland, told the Press and Journal yesterday that attractive fiscal policies, relatively robust power processes, long-term rising demand and stable cashflow policies had helped the renewable-energy industry to weather the economic storm better than most other sectors.
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