All-Energy 08 - the place to come for answers

Take one compelling conference with 200 speakers; over 360 exhibiting companies; thousands of business/professionals engaged in renewable energy in some way, and you have the recipe for All-Energy 08 (Aberdeen 21-22 May)

With just three weeks to go before All-Energy '08, the UK's largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, opens (Aberdeen, 21-22 May 2008), well over 3,000 registrations have been recorded. More than 360 exhibiting companies from home and overseas will be showcasing products and services to every sector of the renewable industry. Additionally, and importantly, All-Energy is set to stimulate much highly topical discussion.


"The conference will be addressing many of the key issues currently concerning the industry. These range from recruitment and filling the increasing number of jobs in the growing industry to how to get more wind turbines into the supply chain; from reaching the EU's 2020 targets to the highly topical issue of 'fuelling or feeding the nation'; and from creating value from the mitigation of climate change, to low carbon building aims and requirements, and much, much more," explains project director Judith Patten of Media Generation Events, who organise the annual event in partnership with Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. "We've a packed two days, during which the conference covers all sources of renewable energy and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. And, there are plenty of both!

"Take careers as one example. We have a conference session "Skills - getting the right people: The Great Debate" which we hope a very diverse audience will attend - we are eager to see all manner of people taking part in the discussion including qualified engineers considering a switch in careers to join this rapidly expanding industry; careers teachers who will then be able to offer their students practical advice; university students about to graduate; members of the building trades eager to develop a new skill ….. The line-up for the session is evidence of the far ranging discussion that is expected to ensue:

• Chair: David Rodger, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group
• Panellists:
• Keynote scene setting address - Nicol Stephen MSP
• Looking at training schemes - James Brown, Skills Director Scotland, Energy & Utility Skills
• The size of the skills gap and what the industry is doing about it - Henning von Barsewisch, Managing Director, REpower UK and chair of BWEA's Skills & Education Strategy Group
• 'Been there, done that' - David Cameron, Chief Technical Officer, Scottish Renewables talks about his experience of re-training; and also about SRF initiatives
• The view from academia - Professor Paul Mitchell, University of Aberdeen
• 'What's on offer '- Neil Daly, Director, Hamilton Consultants provides a broad view of what is happening from a wide recruitment perspective
• Discussion and Q&A

After the conference session on 21 May, there will be a networking reception in the Jobs Zone in the show, an area where prospective employers and employees can mix and mingle; and where job openings will be posted alongside CVs from potential employees.

"What's more, earlier in the day, one of our exhibitors, IMarEST, will have staged a "CV Workshop" sponsored by Castrol Marine and held in association with The Robert Gordon University, to ensure that students' CVs are fully up to the mark," adds Judith Patten. "So, All-Energy '08 is delivering a very complete package.

Aberdeen City and Shire is the host sponsor of All-Energy '08, which is held in association with the British Wind Energy Association, Scottish Renewables Forum and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, with The Society for Underwater Technology as the learned society patron, sponsors including The Carbon Trust and Renewable Energy Association and 25 supporting organisations.

The All-Energy exhibition and conference is free to attend for all with a business/professional interest in renewables; and those eager to join the industry certainly fit the bill. Online registration is open at www.all-energy.co.uk

Talking about turbine reliability
Careers and helping to fill the 'skills gap' is certainly important, but this year's All-Energy will see other vital topics also discussed. "For example, we look forward to procurement specialists, engineers and developers taking part in a discussion to be staged during the 'supply chain' session at All-Energy on 22 May, when a panel of industry experts will discuss methods for ensuring performance reliability in turbines, aimed at reducing blockages in the supply chain in order for wind turbine manufacturers to be able to supply a greater number of wind turbines. That is certainly an extremely important topic; we're delighted it will come under the conference spotlight at All-Energy," explains Judith Patten

With over 200 speakers - including UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, Scotland's Energy Minister Jim Mather, and Norway's Deputy Energy Minister Liv Monica Stubholt, the All-Energy conference is packed with thought-provoking sessions. These include 'Especially for the farming community' where the highly topical subject of 'fuelling or feeding the nation' will be discussed and debated; the 'Countdown to the EU 2020 targets', which has the Head of the European Commission's Representation in the UK delivering the scene-setting keynote address; and a session organised by the Industrial and Power Association that addresses four approaches to creating value from the mitigation of climate change.

"There really are sessions for every sector of the industry, and those serving, using, or investing in it," says Judith Patten. "And the audience for each session will differ enormously. We hope that those actively involved in installing microrenewables, and building to conform with zero carbon aims, will be with us for the relevant sessions; just as we hope that representatives of local community groups will attend the conference session designed with them in mind; and representatives of the oil and gas industry will be at our "peak oil" and "carbon capture and storage sessions."

The full conference programme, exhibitor list and much else can be found at www.all-energy.co.uk and in the new 44-page show preview.

ENDS

Further information from Judith Patten @ Tel: +44 (0)20 8241 1912; email: judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk and info@all-energy.co.uk

NOTE TO EDITORS: Have you registered for this highly thought provoking show? If not, just go to www.all-energy.co.uk and follow the registration prompts - there is a press registration form to be completed.

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