Aberdeen’s place at the heart of the renewables industry was underlined by leading industry figures yesterday at a standing-room-only opening of All-Energy.
Organisers said an unprecedented number of people turned out to the two-day event’s opening plenary session, with delegates having to be turned away because the seats and aisles of the 450-capacity room were full.
Attendance figures already exceeded last year’s opening day, with 5,800 people through the doors at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, up 9%.
The plenary session saw UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry underline Aberdeen’s role as an energy capital. He said the Granite City could be at the centre of securing the county’s future energy security through low-carbon technologies, as it had been 40 years ago when oil and gas was discovered in the North Sea.
Mr Hendry added: “This is where the UK’s energy independence began 40 years ago. The same can happen again.”
Andrew Donaldson, offshore-engineering manager at SSE Renewables, said the number of companies already operating in the sector from the north-east was already significant. He added: “Although you may not be aware of it, this city is right at the heart of offshore renewables.”
Iain Todd, renewables champion at Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, also outlined the region’s green credentials, saying biomass capacity had doubled in Aberdeen City and Shire in the past two years – and would likely do the same again in the next two years.
Mr Donaldson, Mr Hendry and others also said there were challenges with the likes of offshore wind, but that solutions were being sought.
“The big challenge you will hear about is reducing costs,” said Mr Donaldson. “Because we are a frontier industry, the wind turbines we have are perhaps not as reliable as we would like.”
But he also said there was work to address costs, through a joint industry and government working group due to report in June.
Judith Patten, All-Energy project director, said there had been a buzz about the exhibition and conference, which continues today.
“We had a dream team in the plenary session and in the exhibition there are so many new developments to be seen and things that just years ago were a far-flung dream are here and now.”
Recommended for you
