FIRST Minister Alex Salmond will travel to the Middle East next week to put pen to paper on what has been described as a “ground-breaking” deal on renewables.
He will sign Scotland up to an agreement to develop green energy products with Masdar – the Abu Dhabi renewable energy company.
The deal a week tomorrow comes only six weeks after the first minister first met the company’s chief executive Sultan Al Jaber and toured its “city in the desert” facility to witness the world-leading work taking place there.
Mr Salmond said: “It is clear that the work Masdar is taking forward on leading us to a low carbon society is in perfect synchronisation with the work we are doing here.
“This is the first agreement of its kind between Masdar and an individual nation and will work towards developing further university research into renewable energy. This landmark deal puts Scotland firmly at the forefront of the green energy revolution and I look forward to this relationship between Scotland and Masdar growing and delivering for our global futures.”
Leading the way on the work at the Scottish end will be the Energy Technology Partnership, an alliance of 12 Scottish universities already engaged in energy research.
During his two-day visit, the first minister will also address an audience of leaders when he attends the World Future Energy Summit as a guest of Masdar.
The summit – from January 16-19 and now in its fifth year – is an annual gathering of world leaders and thinkers committed to promoting advancement in renewable energy and attracts more than 26,000 attendees.
Mr Salmond’s recent visit to the Middle East is also expected to result in further deals, including developments on additional direct air routes by Middle Eastern airlines into Scotland.
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