All-Energy ’09 the Biggest Ever!

Monday, Apr 20, 2009

With a matter of weeks before All-Energy ’09, the UK’s largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, opens in Aberdeen (20-21 May), all the component parts are in place for the largest All-Energy in its nine-show history, and free online registration for this highly topical business-to-business event is open at www.all-energy.co.uk.

An opening plenary session involving both Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism with international input from HE James Wright, High Commissioner for Canada in the UK and other overseas ministerial and governmental speakers gets the two day event off to a flying start. 

Hundreds of exhibiting companies from a dozen countries will be involved in the much expanded exhibition – this year it occupies two halls at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre for the first time, and virtually every inch of available space is booked. A compelling and highly topical seven-stream conference; giant networking evening; and optional post-event technical tours ensure that visitors expected from 60+ countries have a highly stimulating and successful two days at the event which is open free of charge to all with a business/professional interest in renewable energy.

“We are delighted that UK Trade and Investment and DECC UK Renewables are hosting 100 international delegates from 29 countries at this year’s All-Energy including invited companies from South America, USA, Canada, Eastern & Western Europe, South and North East Asia and South Africa with large delegations from China, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Australia and the Philippines,” says Paul Stott, Managing Director of Media Generation Events Ltd, organiser of the annual event, which is held in association with the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), Scottish Renewables (SRF), and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), with the Society for Underwater Technology as its learned society patron; and Vattenfall as its principal sponsor.

“Registrations are poring in thick and fast from home and overseas – last year 4700 attended, and we hosted 380+ exhibiting companies and conference goers were able to select from some 220 speakers in the vibrant sessions. This year some of these records are bound to be broken. But records are not the important thing, what is important is bringing together so many elements of this vital sector of the energy industry and acting as a forum for moving vision to action, and seeing schemes and projects come to fruition all around the UK and further afield.”

Compelling conference

The All-Energy conference covers all sources of renewable energy and the policy, challenges and opportunities facing the industry. With keynote addresses from industry, academia and government (EU, Westminster and Holyrood); and streams and sessions devoted to  wind (onshore and offshore); wave and tidal; fuel cells and hydrogen; hydropower; low carbon buildings and microgeneration and larger onsite schemes; biomass for heat and/or power; public sector renewable schemes; sustainable transport (a first for All-Energy) including fuels and novel solutions; power storage; nuclear power; skills and training; investment and funding; overseas business opportunities; carbon capture and storage; and the all-important grid, All-Energy offers a true one-stop shop for all eager to find out the latest state of play on virtually all elements of renewable and sustainable energy.

There are two sessions aimed at the farming community; a session for communities considering schemes; and workshops and seminars devoted to offshore wind in Scotland, and the East of England; green data centres; Austria’s sizeable contribution to renewable technology; and on aviation:radar and wind; and of course the low carbon buildings and microgeneration/onsite sessions provide up-to-date information for architects, builders, specifiers, local authorities and housing associations. Anyone interested in any aspect of renewable energy is urged to pore over the conference programme at www.all-energy.co.uk to find the sessions that will ensure they are fully updated on opportunities.

“With a conference with highlights in plenty, it is quite difficult to pick specific features. Obviously our opening Ministerial/Governmental plenary session gets things off to a flying start and is followed by keynote addresses from some of the key players in the industry,” explains Judith Patten, Project Director of All-Energy. “Looking through the programme of parallel sessions, we are naturally delighted that The Crown Estate is holding a 90-minute session devoted to offshore wind and wave/tidal activity,” says Judith Patten. “Moving to grid and networks, Steve Smith, Managing Director Networks, Ofgem will get that stream off to a positive start – it will then go on to look at such key issues as large scale interconnector plans, Scottish: Nordic cooperation and investment; and the highly acclaimed Energy Networks Strategy Group report and on how things can be moved on apace.

“Indeed, the All-Energy programme is crammed full with highlights. I urge all interested to pore over the programme on our website at www.all-energy.co.uk. We are ending with a session that should help offshore marine contractors and all involved with the offshore oil and gas industry realise the enormous potential offered by offshore wind for their businesses – ‘The Big Push’ will provide them for plenty of food for thought --- and for their long term budgets!”

Packed exhibition

This year’s exhibition is packed with exhibitors showing products and services relevant to the renewable energy industry and providing updated information on developments, equipment, testing facilities – indeed everything that reflects the myriad of topics covered by the conference programme. There are national pavilions from Austria, Canada, Denmark, Flanders (Belgium) and Norway; large regional pavilions from Aberdeen City and Shire; Fife, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Orkney, Northern Ireland, and Apulia (Puglia) in Italy, and hundreds of individual companies from home and overseas.

The exhibitor list and a growing preview of ‘what they’re showing’ information appears on the All-Energy website at www.all-energy.co.uk

The “added extras”

All-Energy ’09 features the now-traditional Civic Reception, hosted by Aberdeen City Council, and Giant Networking Evening – designed to do “exactly what it says on the tin” and bring people together to meet up with old acquaintances and make new contacts. This year’s event will be held on the evening of 20 May as soon as the exhibition and conference close. A fleet of buses will be available to ferry exhibitors, speakers, visitors and journalists to the Beach Ballroom, the venue for this year’s event where food and entertainment will be on tap for all.

Post-event technical tours have long been an integral part of All-Energy. This year there are two on offer on a “first come first served” basis, with online booking now open. One is to see the award winning anaerobic digester at Gask Farm in Aberdeenshire; and the other is to see the wind turbines at Mackie’s farm where ice cream is made with fresh milk, cream and 100% renewable energy. Additionally a WindCat workboat will be in Aberdeen Harbour throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Background and news updates

Launched in 2001, All-Energy has consistently grown in terms of size and stature. The show is endorsed by over 30 government departments, professional bodies and trade associations, who lend support by providing expert advice and inspiration ensuring the conference keeps in tune with market needs.

All-Energy publishes the free fortnightly news e-zine News@All-Energy as well as daily newsfeeds on its website in order to keep people abreast of the latest information on the renewable energy industry.

Further information on all aspects of All-Energy is at www.all-energy.co.uk and from info@all-energy.co.uk or Tel: +44 (0)1423 524545.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• Further press information from Judith Patten at judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk and on +44 (0)20 8241 1912.

• Press registration is open at http://www.all-energy.co.uk/Press.html

• You will find our “what they’re showing” preview at http://www.all-energy.co.uk/What_they_are_showing.html - if you would like it in Word, so you can cut and paste; or if you need photographs to go with it, please contact Judith Patten

• Last but not least – how else can we help? Just contact Judith Patten to let her know!

Source: All-Energy