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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&[email protected])
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; [email protected]; 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: [email protected]; wwwsustainable-
expo.org
September/October 2002 REFOCUS www.re-focus.net