Leading energy industry figures are to share their knowledge of emerging business opportunities in the wave and tidal sector at an Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (Areg) conference this week.
It is being held at Aberdeen’s Marischal College on Wednesday, and will feature speakers from Scottish Enterprise (SE), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
Attendance at the event – Wave and Tidal Energy, The Five Year Future – is free and open to anyone with an interest in doing business in offshore renewables, but places are limited and should be booked via Areg.
Areg chief operating officer Morag McCorkindale said: “This event has been designed to provide an informative overview of the developing business opportunities in the wave and tidal sector over the next five years. It is set against a backdrop of technological innovation, commercialisation challenges and available support and incentives as well as the political and economic landscape.
“Aberdeen city and shire is playing a crucial role in pushing the boundaries of the rapidly-evolving marine renewables sector and is well placed, through its track record in renewables as well as oil and gas, to capitalise on the opportunities that are developing in wave and tidal.”
Among the speakers will be Neil Ferguson, senior energy executive at SE, who will give an outline of the wave and tidal sector globally but also look at the potential for Scotland to play a key role.
He will also talk about how government is driving industry through research, policy, programmes, funding, support, initiatives and incentives.
Ian Bryden, vice principal (research) at UHI, will provide a technical overview of current research, development and innovation, and consider what the future may look like as the industry develops.
The third speaker is Roy Kirk, area manager for Caithness and Sutherland at HIE, who will talk about wave and tidal energy projects in Scotland.
He will also highlight the potential for investment, skills and jobs in the sector in Scotland, as well as the business opportunities.
Mr Kirk said: “The timing for this event is particularly helpful as the industry starts the move from the deployment of individual devices to demonstrator arrays.
“Much of the expertise and innovation used in other energy sectors needs to be levered in the wave and tidal sectors.”
Areg’s conference, which will include a questions and answers session and networking, runs from noon to 2.30pm.
Follow-up activity is planned later in the year, including “meet the buyer” supply chain and international trade events.