Energy supply chain businesses are set to get an insight into plans for future offshore wind projects at next week’s Offshore Wind & Supply Chain conference and exhibition (28-29 January).
A pioneering initiative – the Supply Chain Share Fair – aims to shed light on new business opportunities in the offshore wind sector.
A series of developers – including AREVA, Mainstream Renewable Power, Statoil and Babcock – will give presentations and one-to-one meetings to inform supply chain companies about future project plans.
Developed by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), Scottish Renewables and Scottish Enterprise, the share fair was launched at last year’s conference.
“The share fair offers an invaluable platform for the supply chain to engage with key players in the global offshore wind market and learn how to work with them to win future business. It is also aimed at accelerating the growth of the industry’s supply chain,” said AREG chief operating officer Morag McCorkindale.
She said Aberdeenshire and City is the perfect location for the share fair because the region is a leading and dominant, international force in offshore wind.
“The region is punching above its weight in renewables investment and, though its world-class offshore oil and gas expertise and existing supply chain mass, it is making a crucial contribution to developing that offshore wind.”
Lindsay Leask – a senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables, which is organising the Offshore Wind & Supply Chain conference – said the supply chain fair would give suppliers to the offshore wind sector the tools needed to succeed with business planning.
“Collaboration and contacts are key in any industry, and particularly so when opportunities arise as quickly as they do in Scotland’s growing offshore wind sector,” she said.
The share fair developer presentations, each followed by a Q&A session, will take place in the Boyd Orr Suite at the AECC from 12.15pm on both days.
One-to-one sessions – available companies are Statoil, AREVA, DNV GL and Babcock – are being set up on a first come, first served basis on 29 January.
To attend the share fair, you must first be a registered delegate at the Offshore Wind conference and exhibition.