All Energy 2015, scheduled to take place May 6 – 7, is expected to draw approximately 7,000 people from as many as 50 countries. There, attendees will have the opportunity to make new contacts and source new suppliers. For ease of tracking down the exhibits and exhibitors of most interest to them there are 15 sector-specific trails. Attendees are also invited to take part in lively debates, discussions and knowledge-sharing in 120 hours of conference sessions and ‘quick-fire’ seminar presentations featuring around 440 speakers.
Free online registration for all elements of the show — the exhibition, conference, seminars and Giant Networking Evening — opened in mid-February, and on the first day alone more than 500 people registered. Since then, a steady stream of registrations has continued. The launch of the All-Energy conference programme saw another sharp climb, for the event boasts a truly world-class conference with high levels of praise from attendees.
After 14 highly successful events in Aberdeen, All-Energy is being held in Glasgow aptly in the year when the city holds its Green Year. This has enabled All-Energy to expand its interest area from renewable and sustainable energy and business energy efficiency to encompass ‘Sustainable Cities’ bringing together national and international initiatives and business strands that help develop sustainable cities.
Wide-ranging conference
Once again, the 2015 conference encompasses all sources of renewable energy generation – onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal, bioenergy (biomass, biogas, biofuel, and energy from waste, including anaerobic digestion), hydropower, solar and geothermal — along with the opportunities and challenges facing the respective sectors. The event also embraces ‘grid issues,’ as well as skills, finance and funding matters. Additionally, big project developers, including the East Anglia 1 and Neart na Gaoithe windfarms, will outline their tendering process in the ‘Meet the Buyers’ Share Fair, and then make use of the special 1-2-1 meeting facility on the exhibition showfloor for pre-booked and timed meetings.
Elsewhere in the exhibition, UK Trade & Investment also plans to stage 1-2-1 meetings between representatives of UK companies eager to find out about export opportunities, and meet UKTI overseas energy specialists, in the UKTI International Business Exchange (IBEX). Specialists are expected from Algeria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Poland, Russia, Vietnam and other countries will be. Those interested in taking part in the IBEX can register by contacting Bernard O’Hear at UKTI Bernard.o’hear@ukti.gsi.gov.uk.
The All-Energy conference programme also covers: carbon capture and storage; hydrogen and fuel cells; energy storage; renewable heat, including district heating; community energy projects; renewables for farms; sustainable transport; business energy efficiency; on-site renewables; microgeneration; and the development of sustainable cities.
Opening plenary sessions
The opening plenary session chaired by Keith Anderson, chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, sees Scotland’s Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP deliver a keynote address. Other speakers are Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council; Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde; Benj Sykes, head of asset management at DONG Energy Wind Power; and Ian Marchant, former chief executive of SSE.
Chaired by Dr Keith MacLean, chairman of the Energy Research Partnership, a similar session – featuring Professor Paul Ekins, Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy at University College London and deputy director of the UK Energy Research Centre; Andrew Lever, Scotland director of innovation at the Carbon Trust, and Mark Adolphus, director of connections, UK Power Networks UK Energy Power Networks – will fire up the second day. Then it’s into those nine compelling and topical streams, with equally impressive line-ups.
The exhibition show floor features three ‘quick-fire’ seminar theatres for community energy (Day 1); business energy efficiency (Day 2); and wave and tidal (both days). 10-minute presentations follow on from each other throughout the day to keep visitors up-to-date with the latest developments. Then in the low carbon vehicle area they can make car buying/leasing decisions thanks to the vehicles on display.
All-Energy is held in association with UK Trade & Investment, the Renewable Energy Association, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), with the Society for Underwater Technology as its Learned Society Patron, and supported by more than 30 government departments, professional bodies, learned societies and trade associations.
Admission to the major exhibition, the multi-stream conference, and Giant Networking Evening is free of charge to all with a business/professional interest in renewable energy or business energy efficiency.
More information on all aspects of All-Energy, including registration, exhibitor list, conference and seminar programmes, the QR code All-Energy App, travel and accommodation, is available from www.all-energy.co.uk