Aberdeenshire Council is hosting a visit from the Japanese Consul General, Hajime Kitaoka today (December 9).
The Consul General expressed an interest in visiting the area after reading a newspaper article highlighting the fact that Inverurie and the AB51 post code boasts the highest concentration of solar panels in Scotland.
Following the tsunami in 2011, the Japanese Government is increasingly looking into the merits of renewable energy and Mr Kitaoka is keen to learn as much as possible from Scotland and report his findings back to his headquarters in Tokyo.
The Consul General will meet Aberdeenshire Provost Hamish Vernal before visiting Mackie’s of Scotland at Rothienorman and the ANM Group at Thainstone, completing his short tour with a visit to the Glen Garioch Distillery at Oldmeldrum, now owned by the Japanese Suntory Group.
Mackie’s is an established family-owned and run business famous for its locally-produced ice-cream. Maitland Mackie, who died in 2014, was well known as a proponent of renewable energy, wind power in particular.
His son Maitland ‘Mac’ Mackie, the current managing director of the business, carried on the tradition, making the company self-sufficient in energy from renewable sources.
Renewable energy generation on the Mackie’s farm includes four wind turbines and a recently-commissioned 1.8MW solar array covering 10 acres, as well as a biomass boiler providing heat to the factory and offices.
The ANM Group at Thainstone Centre has recently introduced a number of energy efficiency measures including low-energy LED lighting, a biomass boiler and a 50 kW solar array, helping to sustain the site.
Belinda Miller, Aberdeenshire Council’s Head of Economic Development, said: “We help promote renewables through direct advice and support and also attend related exhibitions which help us have a positive impact on the local take-up of this technology.
“This, in addition to local understanding and appreciation of the benefits renewable energy sources can bring, mean it is not surprising that a one of Aberdeenshire’s towns is recognised as having the highest concentration of solar panels in Scotland.”
Aberdeenshire Provost Hamish Vernal said “We appreciate the visit from the Japanese Consul General and look forward to welcoming him and showcasing our area.
“Aberdeenshire Council has been promoting the uptake of renewable technologies for over ten years so it is good to see our achievements recognised and if we can contribute to their uptake in other parts of the world that is a significant achievement.”