Speakers from The Crown Estate and Bristow European Operations gave an update on the current status and likely future developments for supporting offshore renewables within the seafaring and aviation sector at AREG’s latest members’ meeting.

Scott Butler, who is commercial manager at Bristow European Operations, spoke about the role of helicopters in accessing offshore renewables projects and how Bristow is developing its position within the windfarm market.

He said: “There is much potential for helicopters within the developing marine market and we are building upon what has already been achieved in safe, fast and effective helicopter access.

“Through my responsibility of spearheading Bristow’s entry into the windfarm market, I was able to share the progress being made with AREG’s diverse membership, especially at such a crucial stage of educating the market on the fundamental role of helicopters.”

Peter Hodgetts, marine health and safety champion at The Crown Estate, briefed AREG members about the opportunities and challenges in marine renewables.

“One of the significant features of marine renewables, particularly offshore wind, is the enormous demand for a wide range of project and support vessels throughout the lifecycle of the project,” he said.

“The Crown Estate has a key role to play in overcoming the challenges faced with accessing these projects but also ensuring companies are well-placed to maximise the opportunities available within offshore renewables.”

AREG is a pioneering private-public partnership which aims to position the region as a global energy hub with a reputation for delivering renewable energy innovation. Its membership, which has soared to nearly 200 members, spans the full range of renewable energy expertise from onshore and offshore wind, marine and hydro, bio, solar, geothermal energy and hydrogen and fuel cells.

Morag McCorkindale, chief operating officer at AREG, said: “Aberdeen City and Shire is increasingly being recognised as a leading centre of excellence for offshore renewables. With more than 40 years’ experience of accessing offshore oil and gas platforms and operating in what can often be a harsh marine environment, the region has vital expertise to transfer into this sector. This includes crucial mechanisms such as recognised codes of practice – including health and safety – sharing of information and supply chain management.

“Issues surrounding access and logistical support for offshore renewables is vital to the future development of our supply chain and important projects for the region, including the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), and indeed potential wave and tidal ventures.

“This meeting has provided an important insight and discussion forum for members to find out more about how the region is driving forward vital developments being made in accessing offshore renewable projects.”

The region’s pavilion at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) will feature more than 55 local businesses on a high-profile stand comprising over 1,000m² of floor space, demonstrating the region’s leading capabilities in renewable energy innovation, skills and supply chain solutions.

Organised by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), the pavilion is supported by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council as well as long-term sponsors, Eastern Airways and Aberdeen Audio Visual.

Earlier this month, AREG received an overwhelming interest in its pavilion with a number of businesses subscribing as exhibitors and sponsors when the innovative private-public partnership exhibited at Scottish Renewables’ Offshore Wind and Supply Chain Conference.

Exhibitor space and sponsorship opportunities are now fast running out for Aberdeen City and Shire’s All-Energy pavilion. AREG is urging any companies wanting to get involved to contact them directly to discuss their requirements. 

Morag McCorkindale, chief operating officer at AREG, which aims to position Aberdeen City and Shire at the global forefront of the renewable energy revolution, said: “The significant growth in Aberdeen exhibitor numbers for 2012 mirrors our increasing profile at All-Energy along with the prime position of the pavilion which ensures an exceptionally high level of traffic.

“The pavilion provides exhibitors and sponsors with the ideal platform to showcase their latest innovations, technology and expertise to both aUKand global audience. This was evident last year when our exhibitors experienced a significant increase in both the quality and number of enquiries. As a result, this created important new business leads and contacts.”

Among the companies and organisations featuring on the region’s exhibition zone are: leading European utility company Vattenfall; international engineering and project management company AMEC; offshore subsea construction and project management organisation, DOF Subsea; Aubin, a chemical-related technology developer with an innovative subsea gel lift system; project manager and renewable energy services company Jigsaw Energy; and Vento Ludens which is a developer, investor and owner of renewable energy installations..

Also exhibiting will be W3G Marine Ltd, an Aberdeen-based company established to provide installation, management and engineering services to the offshore, marine and renewable industries. The company has developed the OWTIS (Offshore Wind Turbine Installation Ship). Other exhibitors include such well respected organisations as the University of Aberdeen, The Robert Gordon University, International Paints (the industrial coatings division of AkzoNobel), The Met Office, The Macaulay Institute and The Federation of Small Businesses.

Since All-Energy’s inception in 2000, the pavilion has grown in size every year. This is due to the high demand from organisations across the region wanting to showcase their capabilities alongside AREG, the region’s award-winning renewable energy industry body.

Last year, All-Energy attracted over 8,000 attendees from more than 50 countries and over 580 exhibitors. All-Energy continues to grow year after year, highlighting the rising global demand for renewable energy skills, products and services. This year, event organisers Reed Exhibitions has added a further 20 per cent floor space, bringing the total size of the show to approximately 7,500sqm across three large halls, while visitor numbers are expected to increase to around 9,000.

For more information about exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities at the Aberdeen City and Shire pavilion at All-Energy, please contact Debbie Ashworth at AREG: DAshworth@aberdeenrenewables.com or visit: www.aberdeenrenewables.com

Further details about All-Energy can be found at: www.all-energy.co.uk

 The Aberdeen City and Shire pavilion has grown in size every year since All-Energy’s inception in 2000. This is due to the high demand from organisations across the region wanting to showcase their capabilities alongside AREG, the region’s award-winning renewable energy industry body.

AREG is now organising the biggest ever presence for the region’s 2012 All-Energy pavilion which is supported by both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council as well as long-term sponsors Eastern Airways and Aberdeen Audio Visual.

Next year’s pavilion will feature a new, VIP lounge for fellow exhibitors to use for private meetings plus more than 1,000m² of renewable energy innovation and business solutions.

Morag McCorkindale, AREG’s chief operating officer, said: “The significant growth in Aberdeen exhibitor numbers for 2012 mirrors our increasing high-profile at All-Energy along with the prime position of the regional pavilion which ensures an exceptionally high level of traffic.

“The pavilion provides exhibitors and sponsors with the ideal platform to showcase their latest innovations, technology and expertise to both a UK and global audience. This was evident last year when our exhibitors experienced a significant increase in both the quality and number of enquiries. As a result, this created important new business leads and contacts.”

As well as different exhibiting options, AREG is also offering a new, high profile sponsorship package for its VIP lounge area. This is being introduced in line with the creation of the new area for 2012. Sponsor benefits include display panel spaces around the lounge, advertising on the plasma screens, branding at key points, display of marketing materials and staff to work from the area. AREG will also include the sponsor’s name in any pre-event publicity.

Morag said: “We would be delighted to talk to any energy-focused organisation that works in the region about the exciting opportunities that our pavilion can offer in terms of exposure to industry leaders and key decision makers in renewables.” 

Last year, All-Energy attracted over 8,000 attendees from more than 50 countries with over 580 exhibitors. All-Energy continues to grow year after year, highlighting the rising global demand for renewable energy skills, products and services.

For more information about AREG’s exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities at All-Energy, please contact Debbie Ashworth on: DAshworth@aberdeenrenewables.com or click here: http://www.aberdeenrenewables.com/key-projects/all-energy/

Further details about the All-Energy show can be found at: www.all-energy.co.uk

Leading figures from five of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group’s (AREG) member organisations will be highlighting and addressing current industry issues. They will also brief fellow members on recent developments and emerging solutions in their specialist areas.

AREG’s chief operating officer, Morag McCorkindale, said: “AREG and its members work proactively to exploit new opportunities being created in renewable energy, and to overcome the challenges faced by the industry. As a result, the region is driving forward industry breakthroughs which are central to Scottish, UK and European efforts to build a sustainable renewable energy footprint in a globally competitive market.

“The region’s world-class oil and gas expertise and cutting-edge innovation is key to the successful development of offshore renewables.

“AREG’s member events provide a vital platform for them to interact, collaborate and share their expertise and know-how, and as a result ensuring that Aberdeen City and Shire continues to be recognised as a global-leading energy hub.”

Kim Hunter, associate director at Search Consultancy Limited, which is sponsoring the AREG event, will be highlighting the current recruitment challenges that exist within the Scottish renewable energy sector. She will discuss ways in which employers can overcome hurdles to fulfil jobs creation.

She said: “Following on from the Scottish Government’s projection of 60,000 new jobs within the renewable energy sector over the next decade, many employers are facing new challenges in meeting demand in particular a skills shortage. It is vital for the renewable industry that we start to see the appropriately skilled people coming through in order for Scotland to take full advantage of this jobs boom.”

Fellow speaker John Newton, general manager of the Offshore and Marine division at Chubb Fire and Safety Limited, is to discuss safety and asset integrity. He said: “With any power generation there is a risk of fire, however this risk is manageable if addressed at the design and planning stage.

“As the number of wind turbines increases, designers, installers and operators are becoming increasingly aware of fire issues faced in today’s market and we can offer practical and cost effective solutions to protect their assets, people and business continuity.”

Michael Blease-Shepley, sales and marketing manager at Reef Subsea, will highlight the company’s role in the offshore wind farm market. The company provides subsea services covering subsea construction & IRM, installation & trenching, ROV and survey services and seabed dredging.

“Although a young company, Reef Subsea has already established the structure and expertise to be able to deliver performance levels usually associated with larger organisations,” said Mr Blease-Shepley. “Our aim is to earn the right to be regarded as a long-term partner by our clients, whether top-tier or operators. We are committed to delivering value to our clients’ projects, regardless of size and scope. To achieve this we are focused on achieving excellence in advanced project management skills.”

The other speakers include Donald Brown, who is business development leader, Cleaner Energy & Utilities UK, at DNV, a global provider of services for managing risk, and Kevin Moran who is DOF Subsea’s renewables vice president and an AREG board director.

AREG is a pioneering private-public partnership which aims to position the region as a global energy hub with a reputation for delivering renewable energy innovation. Its membership, which has soared to more than 180 members, spans the full range of renewable energy expertise from onshore and offshore wind, marine and hydro, bio, solar, geothermal energy and hydrogen and fuel cells.

Aberdeen-headquartered FirstGroup, which operates across the UK and North America, is one of 15 new members to join AREG this month.  The new additions bring the pioneering private-public partnership’s membership to a landmark 180 members – a significant rise of more than 30% within just 12 months.

Terry Vogt, FirstGroup’s head of corporate social responsibility, said: “Joining AREG brings about exhiting prospects which will further build on its activities in renewable transport.

“FirstGroup has a strong track record in trailing and implementing innovative carbon-friendly transport solutions and we remain determined to make our business, and in particular our vehicles, as environmentally efficient as possible.  We hope that through our association with AREG, we will help create new initiatives and projects that will further help reduce our carbon footprint.”

AREG aims to position the region as a global energy hub with a reputation for delivering renewable energy innovation.  Its membership accounts for the full range of renewable energy expertise from onshore and offshore wind, marine and hydro, bio, solar, geothermal energy and hydrogen and fuel cells.

Iain Todd, Aberdeen’s renewables champion, spoke of the significance behind a partnership with the transport operator.  He said:  “To meet our European targets for renewable energy, attention is increasingly turning towards the transport sector to make an important contribution.  Accounting for about a third of our energy use, the sector runs almost exclusively on fossil fuels at the moment.  That will change over time, and AREG looks forward to working with companies such as FirstGroup to help this to happen.”

Further new members to have joined the not-for-profit organisation AREG, which is actively working to ensure that Aberdeen City and Shire capitalises on the inventiveness and enterprise that has firmly established the region as the oil capital of Europe, are: Allomax Subsea, Hydrus Group, Invensys Operations Management, Leiths (Scotland) Ltd, Quartzelec Ltd, Reef Subsea UK Ltd, Search Consultancy Ltd, URS Scott Wilson ltd, Warren Ivers Electrical Services Ltd, Burnett & Reid, Ferguson Modular, Richard Irvin Sustable Energy, Safety & Technical Hydraulics Ltd and S.E.T.S. Ltd.

AREG is an independent company with its own Board of Directors and members who are committed to the development of renewables.  Members include oil and gas majors, technology developers, service, engineering, training, accreditation companies, four local authorities, development agencies and trade associations. 

Vattenfall, Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), the joint venture partners behind a cutting edge Wind Deployment Centre in Scottish waters – the 11-wind turbine Europe Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) off Aberdeen bay – have announced dates for forthcoming public consultation events.

David Hodkinson, UK County Manager of Vattenfall, said:  “The public information events for the Europe Offshore Wind Deployment Centre are an important part of the formal consultation and decision process and they follow on from our recent submission of a consent application to Marine Scotland.  We believe we have made a strong case for the environmental and economic benefits of the EOWDC.  I would like to encourage people to make their own judgement after viewing the information that we will present at the events and speaking to members of the project team.”

Consultation events take place as follows:-

29th August                Peterhead, Palace Hotel                              2-8pm
30th August                Newburgh, Udny Arms                                2-8pm
31st August                Ellon, Kirk Centre                                       2-8pm
1st September            Balmedie, Whitehorse Inn                           2-8pm
2nd September           Aberdeen, Doubletree Hilton (Beach)           2-8pm

EOWDC submitted an application for consent on 1st August 2011 and the formal consultation process ends on 16th September 2011.  Any representations to the application should be made to The Scottish Government, Marine Scotland Licencing Operations Team no later than this date.

To find out more about the EOWDC please visit http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/aberdeen-bay.htm 

Vattenfall, Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), the joint venture (JV) partners behind a cutting edge Wind Deployment Centre in Scottish waters – the 11-wind turbine European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) off Aberdeen Bay – have submitted their consent application to Marine Scotland.

The application seeks permission for work to commence on the construction and operation of the Centre. It follows extensive consultation with stakeholders and studies which have seen the project significantly evolve over the last six years from an offshore wind farm into a deployment centre to test and demonstrate up to eleven next generation offshore wind turbines, support infrastructure and other related technology.

David Hodkinson, UK Country Manager of Vattenfall, said: “Our consent application was submitted on 1st August and will now be subject to the formal consultation and decision process.  We believe we have made a good case for the development, which places Aberdeen at the heart of the development of new technologies to serve the growing European offshore wind sector. We would build the project with the same attention to detail in respect of environmental and community considerations as we have for our previous developments”.

Ron Cookson, Senior Vice President, Technip Offshore Wind, said: “This is an important milestone for the EOWDC and Technip is delighted to be involved. It is our belief that this project could, with considerable EU support, be the catalyst which ‘kick starts’ the region’s rapid emergence as an industry-leading player in marine renewables.”

Morag McCorkindale, Chief Operating Officer at AREG, said: “As Europe’s energy capital, Aberdeen City and Shire is the ideal location for the EOWDC. The region has an offshore oil and gas supply chain unrivalled in the eastern Hemisphere and therefore has the highest concentration of energy expertise, experience, skills and technology. This industrial-scale know-how is crucial to the development of marine renewables, and in the short-term particularly, offshore wind. The EOWDC is a key project to assist in the diversification of its economy.”

Located off Aberdeen Bay, the EOWDC would accelerate the development of offshore wind power by proving the next generation of technology in a real time offshore environment. It is expected that the facility would create jobs and economic benefit by attracting scientists, researchers, engineers, offshore wind supply chain companies and future investment in a fast growing sector.

Scottish Enterprise’s early support for the project underlines its national and international importance and significance on Scotland’s ability to win a share of the major construction work which will follow the granting of consent for the Round 3 zones. The economic development agency has supported the project from its infancy with funding to date in excess of £200,000.

Chris Bronsdon, Chief Executive, Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC), said: “The development of offshore wind still faces many challenges to commercial deployment. The operation of the EOWDC will make a strong contribution to knowledge sharing for new components, designs and access methodologies for construction, operations and maintenance to be executed in the marine environment. SEGEC played a pivotal role in securing the award of up to €40M from the European Commission and see that there will be significant added value to the partners, and to Scotland, in positioning this deployment centre as a key asset in the offshore wind supply chain.”

Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre has the potential to become a huge asset to Scotland, helping to ensure that we remain a global leader in renewable energy. Aberdeen has always been a strong base for our offshore energy industries with a wealth of experience and skills in oil and gas that we can now use to grow our green energy industry. Offshore wind is especially important as it has the potential to deliver more than 28,000 direct jobs in Scotland by 2020 and contribute up to £7.1 billion of investment to the economy, breathing new life into our manufacturing sector. The EOWDC project will help to deliver these opportunities through facilitating the proving of next generation technologies, helping Scotland to attract and retain the investment needed to create jobs and provide secure supplies of clean and affordable energy.”

Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of RenewableUK, the country’s largest wind and marine energy association, said: “The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre will provide invaluable opportunities for R&D, helping the industry to grow with real confidence.  Innovative projects such as this will help the UK to maintain its position as the world leader in offshore wind. This will in turn encourage more investors to come forward, creating thousands of jobs in the rapidly-expanding offshore wind sector”.

Bob Collier, Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce said: “This is a real opportunity for Aberdeen and the North-east to place itself at the forefront of this aspect of the renewables industry. There is fierce competition not just in Scotland but across the rest of Europe to gain recognition as a leader in the field and this project will provide an extremely valuable testing site for manufacturers to demonstrate their products and to gather vital data on performance.”

Dr Simon Puttock, Executive Director of the Energy Technology Partnership said: “The Energy Technology Partnership welcomes the development of EOWDC and we look forward to supporting it with our world-class expertise in wind energy and power network related technologies”.

Professor Paul Mitchell of the University of Aberdeen’s School of Engineering said: “This is potentially a great opportunity for Scotland’s research community to actively engage in the development of an important means to generate low carbon electricity. Particularly important will be the deployment of the Ocean Laboratory, as wide a range of turbines and support structures as possible and access to these for independent evaluation in order to aid future developments.”

Sara Budge, Project Director for Energetica, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF) said: “This is a major step forward for the pioneering EOWDC development which will play a pivotal role in ACSEF’s flagship Energetica project. Not only will it enable the testing of new generation technologies but bring significant opportunities for Aberdeen City and Shire to build a viable, robust supply chain around offshore wind, particularly in the areas of development, operation and maintenance.

“Energetica is a highly ambitious, dynamic proposal at the heart of our efforts to promote Aberdeen City and Shire as a global energy hub. In addition to the EOWDC, the hydrogen corridor, airport development zone and Peterhead’s decommissioning and emerging marine renewable sector – along with links to the region’s two universities and research base – are also key to the ambitious Energetica vision.”

Colin Parker, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Harbour, said: “Renewable energy, and in particular the offshore wind industry, has the potential to generate significant levels of traffic for Aberdeen Harbour in the future, while offering considerable economic opportunities that will benefit the whole region. Vessels involved in surveying and drilling bore holes for offshore wind farms are, for example, already utilising the port’s facilities. The EOWDC is a facility that has the potential to substantially develop the north east’s burgeoning renewables sector. The harbour’s future role as an operations and maintenance base for the Scottish renewables industry is something we will embrace as we build on the excellent reputation we have already established within the existing oil and gas industry.”

In August of last year The Crown Estate awarded the EOWDC an exclusivity agreement as an offshore wind demonstration site. In December 2010 a grant award of up to €40m was confirmed from the EU as part of wider proposals to invest in key energy and internet broadband infrastructure projects. The EU Grant will support both development and capital costs associated with the EOWDC.

Dates will be released shortly for a series of consultation events which will allow the public to view the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment.

The pioneering private-public parternship, which aims to position Aberdeen City and Shire at the global forefront of the renewable energy revolution, now has more than 165 members – a soaring 25% rise over the last year – spanning the full spectrum of renewable energy expertise including onshore and offshore wind, marine and hydro, bio, solar, geothermal energy and hydrogen and fuel cells.

Among the new members are Advisafe Risk Management, Aubin Ltd, Enventi Ltd, Enviko, Renewable Energy Solutions, HSBC, Langlee Wave Power, Pisys Limited, RPS Energy and SeaHold GEOSHIPS Ltd.

Richard Smith, business development manager of SeaHold GEOSHIPS, said: “We are currently in the process of initiating a comprehensive brand building campaign to introduce our approach and services to the offshore renewables market.  It is hoped that membership of AREG will help promote GEOSHIPS and raise the profile of the company and capability of Aberdeen based contractors in the industry.

“AREG is a powerful and proactive orgaisation, which promotes Aberdeen, its opportunities and business, and one that will develop our renewable involvement.  We are pleased to be a new member of AREG and look forward to being involved with the organisation.”

Seahold GEOSHIPS Ltd is a marine and subsea services contractor, offering dynamically positioned vessels, equipped with subsea work spreads to suit operations in the offshore renewable market.

Morag McCorkindale, chief operating officer at AREG, said many of the new members had joined following All-Energy 2011 where AREG had its biggest ever presence on its pavilion.

“The success of this year’s All-Energy show in May demonstrated Aberdeen City and Shire’s renewable energy credentials to a global audience,” she said, “This is very much reflected in the quality of organisations continueing to recognise the benefits that membership of AREG can provide.

“The region is home to a world-class concentration of innovation, knowledge and expertise in the energy industry.  It is our principle that by working together we can capitalise on this established skill-set and position the region as a global player in sustainable energy.”

Paddy Collins, managing director of Aubin, a leading independent supplier of specialist chemicals to the energy industry, views AREG as an ideal forum for exchanging skills, innovation and technology.

He said:  “We exhibited on the AREG pavilion at All-Energy and were very impressed with the organisation as a whole.  Its commitment to promoting the transfer of expertise between the oil and gas and the offshore renewables industry falls very much in line with our own interest.

“Our recently launced Gel Lift System (GLS) for example, which could save millions of pounds during the installation phase of offshore renewables infrastructire, was a spin-off from our DeepBuoy product, a subsea lifting and handling tool specifically designed for use in the oil & gas industry.”

Founder and GEO of wave developer Langlee Wave Power, Julius Espedal has his sights set on delivering cost effective energy to the UK and globally, and beleives an AREG membership will help drive these ambitions.

He said: “Scotland is trailblazing many of the advances in renewable energy and AREG provides a great platform for like-minded organisations to meet and debate the issues.  Collaboration is key to achieving the targets for renewable energy.”

Pisys is a Scottish software company which specialises in the creation and delivery of software products and services to a worldwide client base.  From its origins in the Nort Sea oil industry, Pisys has developed extensive experience of creating mission critical software capable of operating reliably in harsh environments.

Gemma Beecroft, of Pisys, added: “Pisys has joined AREG as we are looking to extend our services into the marine and wind energy sectors.  We feel through an affiliation with AREG there is potential to make alliances and form new partnerships that will allow us to be involved in the advancements of renewables industry.”

AREG is a not-for-profit organisation which is actively working to ensure that Aberdeen City and Shire capitalises on the inventiveness and enterprise that has firmly established the region as the oil capital of Europe.  AREG aims to position the region as a global energy hub with a reputation for delivering renewable energy innovation.

The partnership is an independent company with its own Board of Directors and members who are committed to the development of renewables.  Members include oil and gas majors, technology developers, service, engineering, training, accreditation companies, four local authorities, development agencies and trade associations.

Designed to provide information on potential EOWDC supply chain opportunities – wide interest is anticipated from:

• Turbine manufacturers

• Foundation manufacturers

• Cable manufacturers

• Cable installers

• Offshore construction companies

• Vessel suppliers

• Offshore wind turbine access solution providers

• Universities and research establishments

Supported with a European Union grant of up to 40m Euros and located off Aberdeen Bay, the EOWDC would accelerate the development of offshore wind power by proving the next generation of technology in a real time offshore environment.

It is expected that the facility would create jobs and economic benefit by attracting scientists, researchers, engineers, offshore wind supply chain companies and future investment in a fast growing sector.

The event follows on from a rallying call issued at this year’s All-Energy event and growing interest in the potential for the centre. A consent application to Marine Scotland is expected shortly.

For details on how to register for this event please contact Scottish Enterprise at events@scotent.co.uk – please note registration closes at 12 noon on Friday 17th June.

Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) today underlined how the region’s world-class energy expertise is bolstering its industry leading position in offshore wind and is vital to capitalising on the global, multi-billion pound market opportunity.

The pioneering private-public partnership launched a portfolio of Aberdeen City and Shire’s offshore wind energy business achievements which will be promoted worldwide.

Morag McCorkindale, AREG’s chief operating officer, said: “The region is fast being recognised as a centre of marine energy excellence in Scotland, the UK and Europe. This is largely testimony to the region’s offshore oil and gas expertise, which spans more than four decades, and innovative developments such as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC).

“Oil and gas related businesses in Aberdeen City and Shire are already successfully supplying innovation, transferring skills, sharing their much needed knowledge and capitalising on offshore wind opportunities across the world. This is also assisting critical development of the supply chain.

“AREG strongly believes that this wealth of oil and gas experience, as well as its globally recognised practices and industry collaboration, is essential if the UK is to meet its challenging EU targets for renewable energy power generation.”

A key driver behind the region’s fast growing renewable energy sector, AREG has specially produced a portfolio which demonstrates Aberdeen City and Shire’s leading offshore wind credentials. It showcases organisations such as the Aberdeen based Scottish European Green Energy Centre – which played an instrumental role in progressing the EOWDC project – to The Met Office, the Energy Institute, and independent international consulting and research organisation DHI.

Among companies profiled are EOWDC partners Vattenfall and Technip as well as Petrofac, John Wood Group, JP Kenny Renewables, Senergy, Rotech, Fugro Renewables, Balmoral Offshore Engineering, NCS Survey, OEG Offshore, Divex, Blue Water Shipping, Bond Pearce LLP and Maclay Murray & Spens LLP.

AREG has also highlighted key factors which set Aberdeen City and Shire apart on the global energy map through its leading position in offshore renewables supply chain expertise:

• The region’s status as the Energy Capital of Europe with more than 900 energy businesses and a vast concentration of renewables interests. This is the second largest concentration in the world after Houston
• Aberdeen City and Shire has the largest concentration of subsea interests In the world
• The progressive can-do attitude of the region’s supply chain, local politicians and public sector organisations
• The availability of local academic support through Aberdeen’s two world-renowned universities and regional colleges and technical institutes
• The pioneering European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), which is planned for Aberdeen Bay and is a key strategic asset of European significance
• The experience gained in the development and successful testing of the Beatrice offshore wind project – a crucial step in the global evolution of offshore wind as a technology
• Aberdeen is home to All-Energy – the UK’s largest renewable energy conference and exhibition
• AREG is an innovative partnership that is championing the region’s renewable energy credentials as a strategic tool which not only benefits Scotland but the UK and Europe
• AREG and its 170-strong membership are already active across the four corners of the globe due to the region’s unique position within international energy networks.