Scotland is already punching well above its weight on the delivery of renewable energy, however, whilst endorsing progress and debating energy policy developments, many are still losing sight of the real target. To ensure Scotland stays on the right track, experts from firms such as E3G, Grant Thornton, Aquamarine Power, SSE, National Grid, and the Scottish Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage joined Minister Salmond during last week’s 2011 Scottish European Green Energy Centre Conference to discuss what the real opportunities ahead are and which are the core hurdles to be cleared in order that Scotland maximise the potential for success and focus on ensuring that the projects, whether in concept or more mature, can become ‘bankable’.
During the annual conference of the SEGEC, Alex Salmond said: “The economic opportunity in renewables is clear” – with the value of the sector in Scotland now estimated to rise from €3.0 billion in 2007-08 to as much as €3.7 billion by 2013-14. The wider low carbon market is expected to rise from around €9.9 billion in 2007-08 to €14 billion by 2015-16 – over 10 percent of the Scottish economy – and this potential was the focus of last year’s Low Carbon Investment conference.”
The SEGEC alone has helped secure over €100 million in EU funding for key projects such as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre in Aberdeen and the Moray Firth node – one of the building blocks of the future North Sea Grid.
During his speech, Salmond also welcomed a Skills Investment Plan for the energy industry, stressing that “as many as 95,000 potential job opportunities have been identified across all sectors of the energy industry”. However, Salmond added that “continued investment in the skills and talents of our people” is needed if the renewable sector is to realise its potential in Scotland. The previous week, Salmond had announced that up to €1.16 million will be made available to provide as many as 500 modern apprenticeships in Scottish energy and low carbon sectors over this next year. “That is only a starting point, however. And I call upon all partners – those in our colleges, universities, local government, industry and beyond – to work together to prioritise our efforts and investment so we can continue to deliver a world class energy workforce for Scotland,” he said.
Taking to the sea
The Scottish renewables sector has already seen significant investment announcements by leading international manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Gamesa and ABB, and continued success of Scottish companies. At the end of February, for example, the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne, welcomed a €3.5 million marine renewable energy contract between Edinburgh-based wave energy developer Aquamarine Power and Falmouth-based marine drilling specialists Fugro Seacore (Seacore).
The contract involves installing the foundation system for Aquamarine Power’s next-generation wave energy device, known as Oyster 2, which will be installed off the Scottish island of Orkney this summer.
“This deal shows that a thriving marine energy sector has the potential to offered skilled jobs and economic opportunity the length of the UK. The goal for the UK is to capitalise on our existing global lead in marine energy and deliver the first commercial arrays within the next five years. This will require support on a number of fronts but offers the promise of a world-leading, export-led green industrial sector,” said Martin McAdam, Chief Executive Officer of Aquamarine Power said.
“This is good news for the British marine energy sector - from here in Falmouth to Orkney where the Oyster device will be deployed,” Mr Huhne said, adding “our island has a tremendous marine energy resource and we already have a lead in the technology. Now the challenge is to see it deployed commercially”.
Seacore will commence drilling and installation of steel piles for three Oyster devices this summer at Billia Croo near Stromness in Orkney. The company previously installed the piles for Aquamarine Power's Oyster 1, also at Billia Croo, which was installed in 2009.
Aquamarine Power will install a single Oyster 2 device this summer with a further two devices to be put in place in 2012. Together the three Oyster 2 devices will form a 2.4-MW array connected to a single onshore generating plant.
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change highlighted that “as we face oil prices beyond $100 a barrel and the clearest evidence yet of the physical dangers to the UK of manmade climate change, innovations such as the Oyster are the sure-fire insurance policy with a big economic dividend,” concluding that marine energy has the potential to sustain growth, quality employment and skills in the South West and the UK’s wider, fast-developing low carbon economy. “The Coalition is determined to ensure this potential is realised,” he said.
PowerBuoy completed
Elsewhere in Scotland, Ocean Power Technologies and Port Services Group have announced the completion of a new generation wave power device at Invergordon.
With a peak-rated power output of 150 kilowatts – equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 150 homes – the P8150 PowerBuoy is the largest and most powerful wave power device designed by Ocean Power Technologies to date.
Steve Clark, managing director of Port Services Group said: "The manufacturing and deepwater facility at Invergordon makes the base ideally located to aid the development of renewables such as offshore wind, and wave and tidal energy. Port Services is developing its business to service these new opportunities that will create new employment and high quality jobs in the region."
Low Carbon Investment event
While these latest announcements show the strength of Scotland’s commitment to renewable, Alex Salmond warned in his speech last week that “there must be no let up in our efforts to secure an increasing share of the growing global low carbon market”. As part of this drive, Salmond announced the second Low Carbon Investment conference, which will take place on the 27 and 28 September in Edinburgh, following the success of last year’s inaugural event attended by around 550 delegates from government, low carbon industries and the financial sectors.
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