All-Energy, the largest renewable energy exhibition and conference held in the UK (Aberdeen, Scotland, 23-24 May 2007) exceeded all expectations with 4000 attending from home and overseas, 350 exhibition companies and 220 speakers.

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ALL-ENERGY EVER

- EXHIBITORS AND SPEAKERS AIR THEIR VIEWS

• "All-Energy is now well and truly established as the premier event in this field in the UK. Our dependence on a secure and sustainable energy future will ensure its continued success"
• "Each year All-Energy has got bigger and better - this was our third year. 2007 saw a huge increase in enquiries"
• "Quality of potential customers was very good"
• "Well organised and the perfect place to make new contacts. It has become a must for our business"
• "It's the first time in 25 years of exhibitions that I had queues at the stand wanting to see me"
• "Made over 70 new leads in the two days, that's one every 15 minutes"
• "This was one of the best events on hydrogen and fuel cells that I've attended over the past two years"
• "All-Energy gets better every year"
• "A very well organised event which had a strong business buzz about it"
• "The best ever renewables show in the world - everyone is saying so!"

With 4000 participants from home and overseas, All-Energy '07, which incorporated the first H207 hydrogen and fuel cell conference and group pavilion, proved to be the largest and busiest in its seven-show history. Attendance was up 40% over the 2006 event (when 2850 attended); the number of exhibitors had risen by 50% (220 in 2006; and 350 in 2007) occupying 40% more space (just under 2000m2 in 2006; 2756m2 in 2007); and the conference saw nearly 220 speakers take part.

Exhibitors at the UK's largest renewables exhibition and conference came from a dozen countries, with national pavilions taken by Austria, Canada, Denmark, Norway and the USA; large regional pavilions from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire; and the Highlands and Islands and Orkney; and individual exhibitors from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Thailand, The Netherlands, New Zealand, the USA as well as from every part of the UK.

Inward Missions came from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, The Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan and the USA.

"In every way this was the biggest and the best All-Energy," says project director Judith Patten of Media Generation Events Ltd who organise the annual show in partnership with Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. "Completed exhibitor questionnaires are still coming in, but we are delighted by the feedback we received during the show and now once people are back at their desks.

"With 16 wave and tidal devices featured in the show, and growing number of exhibitors from all sections of the industry ranging from bioenergy to microgeneration and wind to solar we have a tremendous base on which to build the 2008 and future events - space requests are coming in thick and fast! We are delighted too to be able to announce that following the success of H207, All-Energy will incorporate H208 involving the hydrogen and fuel cell community who are eager to get over the message that they can offer solutions to challenges right now, not far off in the future."

The timing of the 2007 event could hardly have been better, the Planning White Paper was published two days before All-Energy opened; and the Energy White Paper was published on its first day. The publication of the latter meant that Energy Minister, Lord Truscott, was too tied up to be at All-Energy on opening morning, but there was a video link with him on the second morning enabling him to bring those attending the plenary session up to date on relevant issues in both White Papers.

Opening morning saw addresses by two politicians new to their posts - Lord Provost Peter Stephen, the newly elected Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen; and Jim Mather MSP, the newly appointed Scottish Executive Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism. The conference was also addressed by the U.S. Ambassador H.E. Robert H. Tuttle who then visited the stands of all American participants in the show. Two other Ambassadors were present on opening morning, H.E. Birger Riis-Jørgensen, the Danish Ambassador; and H.E. Bjarne Lindstrøm the Norwegian Ambassador who toured the show, as well as Minister Jack Keir, New Brunswick Department of Energy and other distinguished guests from home and overseas.

Getting down to business
Once the opening plenary session had finished, the conference split into seven parallel sessions, which during the first day covered Policy - Countdown to 2010 which saw key members of the industry looking for a "silver bullet"; onshore wind (planning, technical issues); wave and tidal; overseas market opportunities; supply chain opportunities; skills - opportunities and challenges; finance and funding; carbon capture and storage; innovations from Denmark and Austria; and technical workshops on aviation/radar and health and safety as well as the first day of deliberations in the H207 conference. With its theme "The USA and Europe Getting Down to Business - implementation of the hydrogen economy" and involving speakers from the USA and all over Europe this had sessions that set the scene, provided an industry update and looked at the relationship between government and industry.

The first day, which attracted as many as the total show in 2006, closed with "happy hour" receptions on many exhibition stands and a Civic Reception hosted by Aberdeen City Council prior to the All-Energy Giant Networking Evening that this year had a circus theme, with many taking the opportunity to learn some circus skills ranging from tightrope walking to plate juggling and balloon modelling.

"Curbing the Carbon: Balancing the Economics" was the theme of the plenary session on Day 2 of All-Energy '07, with compelling presentations from speakers including Brian Wilson, the former Energy Minister; Michael Taylor, representing the IEA; Michael Raymont of Canada's EnergyINet; and John Westwood of Douglas-Westwood all following a scene setter from The Met Office Hadley Centre; and including the video link with Lord Truscott. Topics in the parallel sessions for the rest of the day covered The Energy White Paper - a view from the power industry; grid and network issues; "Take the hydro road - a change in the air?"; offshore wind - including DOWNVInD - a European success story; bioenergy (biomass and biofuels); a session aimed at the farming community; renewables for communities; microgeneration; innovations from Norway and Canada; and H207 sessions devoted to business case studies, quick fire business presentations, and "The Magic of Hydrogen" to dispel myths surrounding the gas and looking to the future thanks to some of the young people who are becoming involved in the industry.

Many of the presentations from All-Energy '07 will be available on the website at www.all-energy.co.uk from 11 June.

The day after All-Energy closed, well-attended technical tours took place to the Glens of Foudland windfarm and to a farm-based biogas plant.

Looking to the future
All-Energy '08, incorporating H208, will be held 21 and 22 May at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. Full information will appear on the website at www.all-energy.co.uk - already companies are making their space requirements known to organisers Media Generation Events Ltd and there is no doubt at all that there will be considerable expansion of the exhibition. Further information from info@all-energy.co.uk; +44 (0)1423 524545 and +44 (0)20 8241 1912.

All-Energy is held in association with BWEA and Scottish Renewables; The Society for Underwater Technology is the learned society patron; Aberdeen City Council is the host sponsor with Shell as the event's associate sponsor. The show is endorsed by over 20 organisations including the DTI and Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise as well as trade associations representing every part of the renewable energy industry.

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Press information and photographs available from Judith Patten at judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk and +44 (0)20 8241 1912