UK - A strong wind of support in Glasgow

The first day of the UK wind, wave and tidal industry annual conference, BWEA28, got off to a flying start yesterday with keynote speakers delighting the 1200 strong gathering with their cross-party consensus on the need to move forward rapidly on onshore wind. ScottishPower Chief Executive Philip Bowman was joined on the platform by Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen MSP, Conservative Shadow Energy Minister Charles Hendry MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary Chris Huhne and Richard Lochhead, SNP spokesman on Environment and Energy, under a common theme of the urgency of the need to invest now in the energy infrastructure which will secure our planet’s future.

Equally welcome was the recognition of the need to address barriers still facing the industry, namely planning and gird. “The onshore wind industry is keen to deliver”, said BWEA Chairman Chris Shears, “and these messages are a welcome sign of support at a critical time for the sector.” The wind industry will be key in meeting targets for renewable energy for 2010 and beyond, and the onshore wind sector is at the vanguard of that delivery, and with rapid deployment can meet up to 50% more than previously anticipated. Delegates were further delighted by the launch of a major new initiative to support the development of marine renewable energy. The Carbon Trust’s Marine Energy Accelerator will provide up to £3.5 million to help drive down costs and accelerate progress, allowing the sector to move closer to realising its potential of up to 20% of UK electricity needs.

Mike Hay, BWEA Marine Renewables Development Manager, said: “This is a fantastic confidence boost for this emerging industry. The Carbon Trust are backing up the conclusions they made earlier this year, that marine renewable energy has huge potential in the UK, with more work that will look further into how to make this a reality. It's this kind of support that makes this country the global hotspot for wave and tidal stream energy and will ensure it remains that way." The event, BWEA28: Securing our Future, is at the SECC in Glasgow from 10-12 October, and has attracted all the leading players in the sector, with over 1200 delegates, a conference programme of 150 speakers and accompanying exhibition with 120 companies on display. The exhibition will be open to members of the public on Thursday 12 October from 10am to 3pm. Full details at www.bwea.com/28