Multi-millionaire Sir Richard Branson has become a virtual last minute addition to the list of speakers at the All-Energy renewables exhibition and conference next week.
Sir Richard will deliver his address from his private island in the Caribbean via Skype at 3pm on Thursday, the second day of the conference.
The presentation will take place at the end of “Investing in the future – innovation”, a session devoted to innovation in the offshore wind sector.
Judith Patten, All-Energy’s Conference Director, said the entrepreneur came on board as a result of his involvement in the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit organisation that aims to advance the low-carbon economy.
Ms Patten said: “Sir Richard may not be directly involved with offshore wind, but the fact that this session is being chaired by Calum Davidson, Highland and Islands Enterprise’s Director of Energy and Low Carbon was the deciding factor.”
Peter Boyd, Chief Operating Officer, The Carbon War Room will be speaking in a plenary session earlier in the day.
“The Carbon War Room is a global non-profit organisation, founded by Sir Richard Branson and a team of like-minded entrepreneurs that accelerates the adoption of business solutions that reduce carbon emissions at gigaton scale and advance the low-carbon economy,” Ms Patten said.
“Having Sir Richard with us later in the same day will give our audience a greater understanding of the work of the organisation,” she added.
The Carbon War Room identifies and works in sectors where emissions can be reduced profitably, and where there are barriers preventing greater adoption of low-carbon solutions.
Mr Boyd will argue that “solving climate change is the single biggest society opportunity on the planet today”, while highlighting two case studies of Carbon War Room’s recent work that will have resonance in Scotland – island energy systems and fuel efficient shipping.
The UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference is being held at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC), 21-12 May.
Speaking live from his renowned Necker Island base, Sir Richard will be joining the conference at 15:0 on Thursday 22 May through the medium of Skype;