UK RE: sense of urgency needed

REVIEWS AND PREVIEWS

Reviews and Previews UK RE: sense of urgency needed

The key message at the All Energy Opportunities

Conference held in Aberdeen, Scotland, on

28th-29th May was the potential for UK com-

panies to win a substantial share of the growing

global renewable energy market - worth around

f400 billion by 20 10. However, there was a sense

of urgency that they must act now, or lose the

lead as before with onshore wind. Scotland is in

a pnme position to take advantage of these ‘mas-

sive’ opportunities, with its outstanding renew-

ables resource and industry expertise. The city of

Aberdeen, especially, boasts a high concentration

of expertise and is seeking to develop its position

as Europe’s energy capital. The focus of proceed-

ings was on large-scale onshore and offshore

renewables projects, and the opportunities for

diversification and synergy between the oil and

gas and renewables sectors. The conference

addressed the world market, supply chain issues,

and how companies could take advantage of

forthcoming market opportunities. Closer to

home presentations looked at Scotland’s renew-

able resources and UK offshore wind develop-

ment plans. The UK could fast become a world

leader in offshore wind if the current eighteen

projects proposed in its coastal waters are realised

however, manufacturers, suppliers and contrac-

tors must rise to meet the demands that this and

the scale of future developments presents.

Developing technology in wind, wave and

tidal power, grid connection issues and environ-

mental effects and their management were also

considered, The consensus of speakers was that

any remaining barriers could, and would, be

overcome - there was now the political will, leg-

islative structure, and a range of financial and

other mechanisms to support technology

research and development in the UK and to drive

the industry forward to realise the commercial

benefits. The conference provided an opportuni-

ty to invite bids for 215 million of government

funding for sustainable energy research and

development, and to announce a &750 million,

1500MW wave energy deal between US compa-

ny AquaEnergy and Scotland’s Aqua Wave

Energy to manufacture and pilot AquaBuOY

wave power schemes in UK and Irish waters.

People and communities were not neglected in

this commercial focus - from the benefits of sig-

nificant job creation to the barriers of local resis-

tance to projects. Sensitive public consultation,

local involvement and offering tangible benefits

to communities were seen as important in dri-

ving UK developments forward. The huge

6OOMW/300 turbine windfarm proposed on the

Isle of Lewis, off Scotland, provided an example

of this approach. The UK renewables scene has

been characterised by large-scale, developer led

projects and this has contributed to difficulties

associated with local acceptance. Plans were

announced for enhanced funding schemes to

promote further community-based projects in

Scotland, and for a forthcoming conference host-

ed by the Scottish Renewables Forum especially

for community groups. Engaging people

through local community schemes and making

them more aware of the implications of renew-

able energy will help smooth the planning

process and get more projects, large and small,

off the ground. (Visit the All Energy conference

and exhibition website for more details:

www.all-energy.co.uk)

Review by Janice McLaughlin

Cjanice. mclaughlin@on-e&e. net)

ACRE sets out its stall Participants agreed on key objectives at the recent

organizing conference of the American Council

for Renewable Energy (ACRE, www.American

Renewablesorg). In July 2002, members repre-

senting the financial, trade association, university,

government, R&D, energy generation, and ener-

gy user communities met in Washington, DC, to

build a framework for this new non-governmen-

tal organization. Objectives agreed were to: 1)

Bring renewable energy into the mainstream right

now; 2) Broadcast the qualities of renewable ener-

gy to domestic energy consumers and 3) Reach

out to stakeholders - including investors - both

inside and outside the U.S. to highlight the eco-

nomic merits of renewable energy technologies.

ACRE’s first conference attracted 250 partici-

pants mainly from the investment community.

Panelists representing the Black Emerald Group,

Capital-E, Merrill Lynch, Nth Power, Perseus

Capital, Winslow Management, and GE Capital

explained what factors guide their decisions to

invest in renewable energy (RE) ventures. These

factors include the health of the energy market,

current corporate investments, government con-

tracting opportunities, and technological profi-

ciencies. Panelists emphasized that investors will

not sink money into a project just because it has

good-hearted merits and will benefit society. To

attract investors, a RE project - like other energy

sector endeavors-must show minimal risk, prof-

it potential, and a suitable growth period.

Panelists emphasized that successful investors are

not in the good will or R&D business.

ACRE intends to help make RE a successful

enterprise that attracts investors looking to make

profit. To do so, ACRE wants to build a large RE

tent to house investors, energy project planners,

government officials, media, universities, and

energy users. By combining forces, this new

association aims to determine how to reach out

to the world in a unifie d voice and usher renew-

able energy into society’s mainstream. Of course,

that means that interested participants have plen-

ty of work ahead.

Review by Stuart V Price

(va&nprice@aol.com)

Conferences coming up

BWEA 24 - Deep Green Power - Brighton, UK

2-4 October 2002

The British Wind Energy Association

(BWEA) is holding its 24th annual confer-

ence and exhibition ‘deep green power’. The

event is now one of the UK’s largest renew-

ables events. The venue this year is the

Brighton Conference Centre to accommo-

date the growing numbers. Around 50 com-

panies active in the sector are exhibiting at

the event. BWEA has lined up an impressive

programme of speakers from Government,

industry and influential stakeholders, giving

you the latest insights into the shape and

future of the UK’s wind industry.

Contact: Alison Hill, British Wind Energy

Association, Renewable Energy House, 1

Aztec Row, Berners Road, London Nl OPW,

UK. Tel: +44 20 7689 1960; Fax: +44 20

7689 1969; info@bwea.com; www.bwea.com

Sustainable Energy Expo -

London, UK 22-24 October 2002

Sustainable Energy Expo is being marketed

as a one-stop shop for any organisation

attempting to reduce the environmental

impact that is caused by power use. The exhi-

bition, supported by a detailed conference

programme, offers a low down on rhe differ- ing shades of green energy - including wind,

solar, PV, hydro, wave and tidal, geothermal,

hydrogen and fuel cells, and all the associat-

ed services. It is also running alongside

Energy Efficiency Expo (wwwenergy-

expo.org) and is free to visit. The Renewable

Power Delivery Conference takes piace at the

same time as the Sustainable Energy and

Energy Efficiency Expos. Organisers of the conference, the Renewable Power Association

and IBE, have secured top speakers for the

event, including Brian Wilson MI: Minister

of State for Energy and John Mogford, BP’s

Group Vice President.

Contact: Alison Hunter, IIR Exhibitions,

29 Bressenden Place, London SWlE 5DR,

UK. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7915 5533 or +44 (0) 20

7850 7500; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7850 7502; E-

mail: ahunter@iirltd.co.uk; wwwsustainable-

expo.org

September/October 2002 REFOCUS www.re-focus.net