AREG calls for input to major EU marine energy project

May 21, 2018

The Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) is calling for input from its members as it looks to draw up an international strategy for marine energy, working with organisations across Europe.

The Europe Leading Blue Energy (ELBE) project seeks to position Europe as the world technological and industrial leader in blue energy.

AREG members will hear about the project at an event tomorrow evening (Tuesday) at the Palm Court Hotel in Aberdeen. The Member Showcase event will also include presentations from Wood, Xodus Group and 1CSI.

The ELBE project is part of the European Union’s Cluster Collaboration Platform and has been selected as the main representative of the energy sector during the recent call first stage.

The 18-month project will be implemented by a consortium of organisations, which includes AREG, Flanders’ Maritime Cluster (Belgium), Offshoreväst (Sweden) y Offshoreenergy.dk (Denmark), under the co-ordination of the Basque Energy Cluster in Spain. A kick-off meeting was held recently in Brussels.

The purpose of ELBE during the first phase is to forge business and define a joint internationalisation strategy to be launched in the second phase.

It is expected that phase one will create new EU cross-border and cross-sectoral business alliances and will identify business opportunities for SMEs in the emerging global offshore wind, wave and tidal markets.

The partners also plan to deliver a strategy for European businesses to enter global markets and create an alliance with a clear focus and which is ready for internationalisation.

Jean Morrison, chair of AREG said: “There is a real drive across Europe for marine energy technological development – particularly wave, tidal and floating wind power which are part of this initiative scope.  There is also a global demand for clean power which our businesses help create.

“This is a great opportunity for our members to get involved and find out about new markets by sharing knowledge and offering support.”

Among other activities, the project aims to conduct market analysis in the main non-European countries involved in marine energy developments, alliance participation in international events and the organisation of several networking and technical events among the companies of the different regions.

The partners involved represent 532 organisations, 17 blue energy test and demonstration centres, 24 wave energy developers, seven tidal developers and seven floating offshore wind developers.

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AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise