Glasgow to host biggest UK wind energy, wave, tidal conference, 2-4th November 2010

Widely recognised as one of the UK’s largest and most important renewable energy events, this year is set to be another record-breaker with more than 3000 people already registered to attend and over 250 exhibitors and 200 speakers expected.

Sponsored principally by ScottishPower Renewables, this year’s event will include key note addresses from Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond and Charles Hendry, UK Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The three days will be packed full of conference sessions addressing the latest policy and technical developments, industry side events including site visits to BAE Systems Shipyard and Whitelee Wind Farm, a range of informative seminars and plenty of social and networking opportunities.

The second and third days will play host to dedicated wave and tidal and small wind turbines exhibitions with focused conference sessions held respectively on those days.

The small wind turbines exhibition will also be accompanied by free public education seminars, ideal for farmers, landowners, or members of the public keen to understand more about the financial and environmental benefits of installing your own wind turbine.

In addition to all this, the third day will feature a free Careers Fair aimed at individuals interested in a career in the renewable energy sector or those working in relevant sectors with a desire to switch to this rapidly-expanding growth area.

Maria McCaffery MBE Chief Executive of RenewableUK said: “This is an extremely exciting time for the renewables industry with tremendous levels of growth expected over the next decade. The UK has already overtaken Denmark as the largest offshore wind energy generator and has recently celebrated the 5 GW milestone of installed onshore and offshore wind farm capacity. In the small wind turbines sector, the UK already leads the way as the largest market in Europe and with some of the best wave and tidal resources in the world, it is predicted the UK marine energy sector will make a significant contribution to our power supply in the years ahead.

“The Annual Conference is a time when we come together as an industry to debate and discuss the future of our sector and better understand the challenges we face in helping this country to deliver on its renewable ambitions.”

Helen Jones, Director of Events at RenewableUK said: “Our Annual Conference and Exhibition is one of the largest and fastest-growing events in the renewable energy sector’s calendar and we fully expect RenewableUK 2010 to be our biggest yet. We have already extended the exhibition space at this year’s event due to its early sell out success and we are braced for a flurry of interest in the final few weeks of registration.”

RenewableUK is the trade and professional body for the UK wind power and marine renewables industries. Formed in 1978, and with 640 corporate members, RenewableUK is the leading renewable energy trade association in the UK. Wind has been the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy source for the last seven years, and this trend is expected to continue with falling costs of wind energy and the urgent international need to tackle CO2 emissions to prevent climate change.

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