Scotland can be ambitious offshore
By Makhlouf Benatmane
When sceptics claim that Scotland’s dream of being a world leader in offshore energy is mere fantasy, they ignore a vast and dedicated private and public sector that is making tangible headway towards the targets laid down by First Minister Alex Salmond.
That progress is not fairy tale. Scotland as a force in offshore energy generation was unmistakable at last week’s EWEA Offshore exhibition and conference with both Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism and Ian Marchant, CEO of SSE both giving the opening address.
What was also palpable at EWEA was the sheer potential for this industry if it is prepared to be bold and courageous.
All the major players attended the event from wind turbine manufacturers through to the developers. So too did the service companies, the logistics firms, the component suppliers, the software designers and the consultants. The supply chain for offshore wind generation harnesses expertise from across many disciplines. Different industries are turning their experience to seize the opportunities they can see for their own businesses. At the final count, the world's largest offshore wind energy event broke a new record this year. With over 8,200 participants and 8,000m2 of exhibition space housing more than 480 exhibitors, it is the biggest and busiest EWEA OFFSHORE wind energy conference and exhibition to date.
NGenTec had meetings with turbine manufacturers from around the world, with complementary component suppliers, politicians and global influencers. Their interest in NGenTec technology can lead to new business opportunities.
The focus of the conversations was cost and collaboration. In such a complex marketplace with numerous different suppliers and contractors, with both revolutionary and evolutionary technology available, the commercial risks weigh heavily, but they are being addressed by all parties in an open and constructive manner.
At the event, the EWEA released their latest analysis of the industry. They report that over 141 Gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity is either built, under construction, consented or planned in Europe. This is enough to power 130 million EU households. It reflects an industry that has thrived on ambition.
• Dr Maklouf Benatmane is CEO of Edinburgh-based generator designer and supplier, NGenTec