Leading world energy figures converge on Edinburgh

The Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference, in it second year, has already established itself as a major event on the low carbon event calendar.

Its pre-eminence has been reinforced this year with a speaker line-up that includes a Nobel Prize winning former Vice-President of the USA; Scotland’s First Minister and Chief Executives for several of Europe’s leading energy businesses, and leading UK and international bankers.

The announcement of former Vice President Al Gore as a keynote speaker along with First Minister Alex Salmond has already attracted huge interest.

From the industry, Chief Executives will include some of those who have recently announced major investment in Scotland, including Jean-Michel Aubertin of Doosan Power Systems; Oystein Loseth of Vattenfall; and Akio Fukui of Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Ltd. Leaders from Scotland’s utilities and energy companies will also be in attendance, including Sir Ian Wood, The Wood Group, Ian Marchant, Scottish & Southern Energy and Keith Anderson, Iberdrola Renewables.

The Conference is also to look at smart, sustainable cities – a session that will be chaired by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose portfolio of responsibilities includes Cities.

She will be joined by several civic leaders, including a delegation from Munich, led by Burgermeister Hep Monatzeder. It is also hoped to have senior officials from cities in the USA.

The Conference takes place at Edinburgh International Conference Centre on September 27 and 28 this year. It will be opened by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.

He stressed that in recent months world-leading turbine manufacturers Mitsubishi, Doosan and Gamesa had all agreed to develop their next generation offshore devices in Scotland, while major Spanish and Portugese companies had announced plans to develop up to 2.4 gigawatts of offshore wind projects in Scottish waters.

He pointed out that exclusivity agreements are in place for wind developments amounting to 10 gigawatts of generation capacity in Scottish waters over the next decade, with a further 25 areas identified for exploration by 2020. Wave and tidal energy projects secured have the capacity to generate up to 1.6 GW by 2020, with significant investments in this area by giants ABB and Alstom.

The First Minister added: “So we are well placed, not only to harness our massive green resources, but to lead the wider transition to a low carbon economy.

“The Scottish Government and our public sector partners are sending a clear and unequivocal message to utilities, developers and to the investment community that Scotland is the place to do business. Building on our natural and human capital, we strive to maintain and enhance one of the most economically supportive and optimum regulatory environments for low carbon investments.”

The Conference is backed by Scottish Enterprise and forms part of the economic development agency’s project to create innovation in finance, secure investment in Scotland’s growing low-carbon economy and recognise Scotland’s strengths in leading debates on worldwide issues.

SE Chief Executive Lena Wilson said: "The transition towards a low carbon economy is of huge importance to Scotland, bringing with it new jobs, investment, greater energy security and significant environmental benefits. We have come a long way since the inaugural conference last year, welcoming new inward investors, developing our renewables supply chain and enhancing our business environment, both physically and financially, to support the growing renewables sector. Supporting the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference not only reinforces our commitment to developing Scotland as a leading low carbon economy but provides an excellent opportunity to put Scotland on the world stage for discussing and debating the opportunities and challenges we, and the rest of the world face, as we work to meet our low carbon ambitions."

Other key partners include Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, which is also the conference organiser.

Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “The SLCI conference will help shape our direction, identify priorities and facilitate financial solutions and investment, highlighting and promoting Scotland’s strengths, including opportunities for investment, skills, resources, research and technical expertise on an international scale.”

A dedicated website has been established at http://www.slciconference.com