Glasgow is set to host All-Energy, The UK's biggest renewable event, as it comes to the SECC on May 6th and 7th
THERE is something majestic about the sight of a forest of giant white turbines. And nowhere in the UK is there a more impressive array than at Whitelee, on Eaglesham Moor - the UK's largest onshore wind farm. The rolling hills topped with synchronised blades illustrate the impressive and swift growth of the renewables sector in the UK and beyond.
Scotland, and Glasgow, are at the heart of the revolution: the Scottish Government says that our seas have the potential to provide up to 25 per cent of Europe's tidal power and 10 per cent of its wave power, plus 25 per cent of its offshore wind resource.
So it's fitting that All-Energy, the UK's largest renewable and sustainable energy event has been held in Scotland for the past 14 years. After a continuous period of growth and visibility, the event moves this year from Aberdeen to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow and will be held on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 May.
"Over the two days we offer an experience where visitors can connect with industry peers and like-minded businesses," said Judith Patten MBE who created the event, first held in 2001.
"The move to Glasgow has been greeted with huge enthusiasm and we are really looking forward to meeting the organisations in the city to help them understand how to manage their energy, save money and reduce their carbon footprint."
Government targets include renewable sources that will generate the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland's gross annual electricity consumption by 2020 and they affect businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to multinationals. This provides opportunities for those in the renewable energy industry and will help business of all sizes.
Generating energy from renewable sources can help businesses save money and reduce their carbon footprint. It may seem like a daunting proposition - but companies looking for a central hub for information, advice and networking will find the All-Energy event next month offers a unique opportunity to hear expert speakers, engage in specialist seminars and take part in wider networking. It can help them add renewable generation and energy efficiency into the energy mix.
Jonathan Heastie, All-Energy's Event Director takes up the story: "This year we will have over 450 exhibiting companies from 20 countries, including a number from close to home such as SSE, Sustainable Glasgow, City Building Glasgow and Scottish Enterprise, with ScottishPower Renewables and Gaia Wind as enthusiastic sponsors."
"We will have some 7,000 people attending from up to 50 countries with 440 speakers in an amazing programme, really world class, and incorporating sustainable cities - including energy efficiency of the organisations in those cities - which is part of the rationale for moving to Glasgow.
"The city is having its first Green Year to promote its drive to become one of the most sustainable cities in Europe."
The dedicated Sustainable Cities Visitor Trail, one of 15 sector specific trails to help visitors find stands that showcase what they are looking for, will highlight sustainable city solutions in onsite and microgeneration, recycled heat, energy-efficient lighting and urban energy storage .
The event, organised by Reed Exhibitions, deals with all sources of renewable energy generation and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and covers other key components including the grid, finance and funding, carbon capture and storage, district heating, sustainable transport and business energy efficiency - which will appeal to the many businesses in Glasgow and central Scotland.
Added to that is a series of quick-fire seminars, back to back 10-minute sessions devoted to wave and tidal power plus community energy and business energy efficiency and a "Meet the Buyers" Share Fair. The All-Energy Giant Networking Evening at the Glasgow Science Museum is proving a major draw, with more than 1000 professionals from across the sector signed up for the event.
Small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to find out how they can save money on energy bills - and reduce their carbon footprint while companies already in the renewables sector in Glasgow and beyond can discover through keynote speeches and networking how to identify the best sources of professional advice. "The Glasgow event has enabled us to include new features and expand on somepopular ones," says Heastie.
"These include the introduction of a Sustainable Cities conference track; our Offshore Wind conference stream will take place on the show floor and the "Arrive and Drive" event will return."
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council said: "Glasgow is the perfect home for the UK's largest renewable energy event. We are home to the £50 million Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult at the University of Strathclyde, which is accelerating the commercialisation of green technologies; Europe's first Power Networks Demonstration Centre, which will drive the adoption of 'smart' technologies and the Centres of Excellence for Scottish & Southern Energy, ScottishPower Renewables and Gamesa."
Read more here.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.ALL-ENERGY.CO.UK
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