Offshore wind has always played a role in the All-Energy conference since it was first held in 2001.
This year the UK’s largest renewable and sustainable energy exhibition and conference, being held at Glasgow’s SECC on May 4 and 5, features 13¾ hours of conference time relating to offshore wind.
“From ‘Road map 2020’ looking forward with true offshore wind luminaries speaking, to safety issues discussed by the key players; from what is needed for developments such as East Anglia ONE, Neart na Gaoithe and the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm, to floating turbines; Marine Scotland’s annual session on the topic; O&M: lowering costs and improving performance, and technology developments, we have a highly relevant and topical offshore wind conference stream,” explains All-Energy’s Event Director, Jonathan Heastie of organisers Reed Exhibitions.
“There are seven offshore wind-related conference sessions and between them the now-traditional Quick Fire sessions, meaning that the offshore wind theatre, sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn on the exhibition show floor, is never without something happening in it.”
Diving into the conference
Following the opening plenary session chaired by Nina Skorupska CBE FEI, Chief Executive, Renewable Energy Association and featuring a welcome by Cllr Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and addresses by Keith Anderson, Chief Corporate Officer, ScottishPower and CEO, ScottishPower Renewables; Julian Leslie, Electricity Network Development Manager, Natural Grid; Jasper Rigter of the International Renewable Energy Agency talking on REmap 2030, IRENA’s global renewable energy roadmap; and Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice Chancellor, University of Strathclyde and Co-Chair of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, visitors can head to the ‘silent’ offshore wind theatre.
The first offshore wind session “Road map for 2020’ features a keynote address by Benj Sykes, Head of Asset Management, DONG Energy Wind Power. Chaired by Patricia Hawthorn, Partner, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Jonathan Cole, Managing Director, Offshore Wind, ScottishPower Renewables; Huub den Rooijen, Director – Energy, Minerals & Infrastructure, The Crown Estate; Matthew Knight, Director of Energy Strategy and government Affairs, GB & Ireland, Siemens; Andrew Jamieson, Chief Executive, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult; and Julian Leslie, Electricity Network Development Manager, National Grid will air their views; and then the discussion between the panellists and the audience begins.
At the end of that session, there will be five quick fire presentations over the lunch period on industry direction and project overviews. Then attention turns to ‘Developers and the supply chain’ chaired by Simon Gray, Chief Executive of EEEGR who will also talk on the East Anglian experience. Bruce Valpy, Director, BVG Associates will get the session rolling with ‘Appetite for disruption: The journey to subsidy free for offshore wind’.
And then it will be the turn of the developers – Mark Timmons, Senior Manager – Offshore Supply Chain Strategy, ScottishPower Renewables on East Anglia ONE; David Sweenie, Offshore Manager – Scotland, Mainstream Renewable Power on Neart na Gaoithe; and SSE’s Steven Wilson, Senior Project Manager for the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm. All three will be talking about their procurement policy and how members of the supply chain can find out if what they manufacture or provide can form a part of the supply chain for these three large windfarms. The ‘buyers’ will then be heading to the All-Energy Share Fair area for 1-2-1 meetings with prospective suppliers.
Safety – of paramount importance
Keeping offshore wind workers safe is of paramount importance. What needs to be done to aim for the ‘holy grail’ of zero incidents? HSE, MCA, G9, IMCA AND IJUBOA representatives under the chairmanship of Alan MacLeay, Engineering Director – Renewable Energy, Seaway Heavy Lifting gather in the safety and training session to consider what is already in place, and to discuss steps that can be taken to put in place the guidance documentation and safety procedures that need to be developed.
Also on May 4, Marine Scotland will hold its now traditional session on offshore renewable energy n Scottish waters – policy, planning and licensing for the present and future; and a further quick fire session looks at global perspectives.
Then on Day 2 (May 5) the morning starts with Floating wind turbines, a session held in association with DNV GL. Japan’s steps towards floating turbines; their future in Scotland the the UK; the Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Project; WindFloat Atlantic project; Floating Power Plan; Atkins on innovative foundation design; Saitec’s SATH ©; and the verification path all come under the conference spotlight. This is followed by a quick fire session on diversification and vessels.
The penultimate offshore wind session, chaired by Elaine Greig, Director, The Renewables Consulting Group, looks at O&M: lowering costs and improving performance – with ‘electrical’ the subject of the second quick fire session of the day. Then the final session chaired by Peter Clive, Senior Scientist at SgurrEnergy focuses on ‘Data: what you know will help you’.
Well over 100 relevant exhibiting companies
The large exhibition with over 400 exhibiting companies is an important aspect of All-Energy. Once again, there are 15 dedicated sector-specific trails to follow to make hunting out the right supplier easy for visitors. Already a hundred All-Energy 2016 exhibitors have signed up to the offshore wind trail, and nearly 40 to offshore O&M..
The All-Energy website at www.all-energy.co.uk not only carries the full exhibitor list, but also divides the exhibitors into sector trails; exhibitor categories; product categories; and forms of transport, meaning that even before reaching the show, visitors can easily determine who they specifically want to see. They can also download the All-Energy App to plan their route around the show, and which conference sessions they will attend.
Similarly, exhibitors are providing information for the All-Energy online “What we’re showing” preview, and just dipping into it provides an insight into the very varied offshore wind-related exhibits:
- ACE Winches will be showcasing a range of deck solutions that have been installed for offshore wind projects in UK and European waters.
- Aggreko UK Ltd will showcase its proven technologies and services for pre-grid commissioning, which enables renewable energy developers to accelerate testing and commissioning... On Thursday 5 May, Marcus Saul, Aggreko Business Development Manager for Offshore Wind, will make a presentation entitled 'Every minute costs: the importance of temporary power in offshore construction and commissioning’.
- Cranfield University’s Offshore Renewable Energy Engineering Centre specialises in research, design and development and techno-economic-environmental assessment of renewable energy technologies.
- DeckSafe Solutions Ltd will feature their 6m long GRP platform with various anti slip flooring, walkway, handrails and treads.
- Gill Instruments will be featuring their ultrasonic wind speed and direction weather stations and software. It marks their entry to the renewable energy market.
- The Invest in Fife Group Stand, organised by Fife Council’s Market Development Programme, will have 11 Fife companies exhibiting including Bi-Fab, Briggs Marine and Environmental Services, ORE Catapult, Utility ROV Services and CCD Marine Ltd
- MARIBE is a Horizon 2020 project that aims to unlock the potential of multi-use of space in the offshore economy. This forms part of the long-term Blue Growth strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole which is at the heart of the Integrated Maritime Policy, the EU Innovation Union, and the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable growth.
- Herbosch Kiere will feature the ‘Atlantis’ multi-purpose pontoon vessel, which connects with the right people within the industry. It is of interest to, and use by, offshore wind farm, tidal and wave developers/owners.
- Inlec UK will be launching a new Automated G59 Tester called the PW41. It is an automatic or Semi-Automatic System for testing all types of relays however it includes Preconfigured templates for G59/3. The system is easy to use and has 3 * 300V Outputs as well as 3*40A outputs with onboard Windows.
- National Instruments will be releasing a major update of their online condition monitoring system: NI InsightCM Enterprise 2.0. InsightCM is a deployment ready enterprise software solution that enables companies to gain insight in the health of their assets for operations and maintenance programs.
- The Regional Development Agency of West Flanders is exhibiting its vivid blue energy cluster that supports the ever-growing Belgian offshore wind market and the emerging developments on wave and tidal energy.
- SgurrEnergy will be launching the SgurrOptimiser, a package of services available to wind farm owners, operators, developers and investors, designed to increase production at existing onshore or offshore wind farms. These services can be adopted individually or all together, depending on the needs of your project.
- SKF Lubrication Systems UK with HES Lubmec have held the market share of OEM fit Lubrication systems to the wind industry and they are now looking to work with the Operators and Maintainers to provide aftermarket support, along with their Distributor HES Lubmec. This exhibit is of use to onshore and offshore wind, tidal turbines, and any other mechanical systems that require lubrication
- From Uniper’s new wind power forecast tool to the layout optimization for cost of energy through the offshore wind turbine foundation, they have a whole range of new services to help you development or operate your wind farm. Uniper Engineering, a spin-off from E.ON, is a leading engineering consultancy, providing specialist engineering and technical services in important aspects of windfarm development, operation and maintenance.
- Zephir LiDAR: To measure wind speed offshore has not, until now, been an easy task… firstly, deciding where, then justifying the expense of £10-15m for an offshore met mast. Now, ZephIR Lidar has released ZephIR 300M…. M for Marine; and it will be displayed for the first time at All-Energy 2016
- Got a view on the so-called Brexit? You can air your thoughts on the Graffiti Wall on the DWF LLP stand. They will also be showcasing their Renewables Taskforce service with experts on all renewable generation sources on hand to help you DWF’s Andrew Symms, Head of Energy will be discussing how North West and Humber offshore wind is adding fuel to the northern powerhouse during the Conference.
And more, much more amongst the hundreds of exhibiting companies.
At the end of the day on Wednesday May 4 discussion and business can continue in a relaxed atmosphere at the Giant Networking Evening held at the Glasgow Science Centre, just a short walk from the SECC.
Information on all aspects of All-Energy, as well as free online registration, is at www.all-energy.co.uk
Strong list of supporters
All-Energy 2016 has a strong list of supporting organisations; and sponsors include Shepherd & Wedderburn; SP Energy Networks; Element Power; Centrica; Centrica Energy; Gaia Wind; Green Marine; and Everoze.
All-Energy is held in association with the Renewable Energy Association (REA); Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Scottish Enterprise; Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and host city Glasgow. The Society for Underwater Technology is the show’s learned society patron; and once again UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), All-Energy’s ‘Key International Trade partner’, will play an active role with country briefings and 1-2-1 meeting opportunities.
A further 40 organisations including government departments, professional bodies and trade associations act as supporters of the two-day annual event.
Further information
Further information on all aspects of All-Energy is available at www.all-energy.co.uk and from all-energy@reedexpo.co.uk.
All-Energy is on Twitter @AllEnergy and has Facebook and LinkedIn groups.