The countdown has begun in earnest – All-Energy, the UK's largest exhibition and conference dedicated to renewable energy is being held in Aberdeen on Wednesday 23- Thursday 24 May, just over a week away.

The countdown has begun in earnest – All-Energy, the UK's largest exhibition and conference dedicated to renewable energy is being held in Aberdeen on Wednesday 23- Thursday 24 May, just over a week away.

"What a marvellous event we have for visitors and exhibitors alike," says Event Manager, Jamie Thompson of Reed Exhibitions. "Over 580 exhibitors from up to 20 countries; over 300 speakers in our conference and seminars; some fascinating and highly relevant associated events; and our incomparable Giant Networking Evening – all designed with one thought in mind, getting buyers and sellers, specifiers, suppliers and developers all under one roof to share their aims, objectives – and business opportunities. We are looking forward to two extremely busy and highly stimulating days, and news of some highly positive outcomes." Registration for all elements of All-Energy is free of charge for all with a business/professional interest in renewable energy (no entry to anyone under the age of 16).

All-Energy gets off to a flying start with a plenary session to which all will be welcomed by the new Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Alex Salmond MSP, the First Minister of Scotland; Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy, DECC; Keith Anderson, Chief Corporate Officer, Scottish Power; and David Gartside a Board Member of the Health and Safety Executive. Three speakers – David Blunt CVO, Director Public Policy UK and EU Institutions, Gamesa Wind UK; Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind, The Crown Estate, and Dr Graham Cooley, Chief Executive, ITM Power will give ‘quick-fire' addresses to set the show firmly on the road to success in this session chaired by Jeremy Cresswell, Chairman of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, and Editor of the Press & Journal's ‘Energy'.

Thereafter All-Energy breaks into seven parallel streams, encompassing 48 equally relevant sessions on every source of renewable energy and on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead; and an equally busy two days in the on-floor seminar areas where Offshore Maintenance and Smart Energy (the All-Energy take on energy efficiency, energy management, microgeneration and onsite renewables) take place in the centre of dedicated exhibit areas.

It's as easy as following a trail!
"Visitors will be able to find those areas easily, but this year there is an innovation to make finding all exhibitors as easy as following a trail. For that's just what we have, eleven subject specific trails – currently on the All-Energy website, but that will be available in printed versions at the show itself," explains Jamie Thompson. "If you want to find all the exhibitors involved with wave and tidal – follow the trail; offshore wind – the same; bioenerygy – yes, there's a trail…..; how about investment, or jobs ….. yes! All the trails are currently online.

"On the subject of jobs, we will, as ever, have our popular Jobs Zone within the show where job vacancies can be posted, and so too can CVs . This has proved a popular feature over the years."

More features than ever before
This year's show features more feature areas than in the past – the Offshore Maintenance – where offshore wind meets oil and gas; and Smart energy zones are within the exhibition hall. Outside is the Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) area with ITM Power's HFuelHere hydrogen refuelling system (another hydrogen system from Logan Energy is powering the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association stand within the show). ‘Ride and Drive' is central to the LCV area with hydrogen fuelled Hyundai SUVs available to try out.

Other vehicles on-show include a Peugeot iON, Honda CR-Z Hybrid, Honda Insight Hybrid, Honda Jazz Hybrid, Mitsubishi, Nissan Leaf, Tesla, while Microcab's new Microcab H2EV will be inside the show on the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA) stand.

World class conference
With close on 300 speakers (and more in the seminars pushing the figure over 300) the All-Energy conference brings together top experts on every source of renewable energy from all over the UK and further afield, with long distance travellers coming from Australia, Canada and the USA to speak at the annual event.

The full range of topics encompasses onshore and offshore wind (including one of The Crown Estate's UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain Seminars); wave and tidal; bioenergy – biomass and biofuels; geothermal; hydropower; hydrogen and fuel cells; microgeneration and onsite renewables; carbon capture and storage; nuclear. And, it looks at policy and topics as varied as the grid (including a session on intermittency); sustainable transport; energy storage (with a second session on the topic specifically looking at nanotechnology); renewable energy growth in China and the Far East; sessions for the farming community, and for communities/co-operatives with – or planning – renewable assets; islands and ‘energy islands'; industry perspectives on financing; frameworks for support – and tapping into Europe; Scotland's new power landscape; public perception….. the full conference programme is available online at www.all-energy.co.uk

So too is the seminar programme for the two new Zones – topically, access equipment is strongly featured in the Offshore Maintenance area; with the Smart Energy area providing practical advice to companies and organisations of all sizes ensuring they maximise all means to attaining true energy efficiency.

The Giant Networking Evening – and associated events
Over a thousand people are expected to gather at the Aberdeen City Council's Civic Reception on the evening of 23 May which moves seamlessly into the Giant Networking Evening – ice breaker activities help make new acquaintances as further cementing long standing ones; and the whole evening affords a pleasant opportunity for networking, something that is essential in the rapidly expanding new industry.

Prior to All-Energy opening there are two associated events being held by RenewableUK on 22 May, a Marine Energy Workshop: How to mitigate insurance and contracting risk; and one of their series of RenewableUK Connect networking events. NOF Energy is also holding an event, on Opportunities for the oil and gas supply chain in new nuclear on 22 May. Opening morning of All-Energy sees the now traditional Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast take place.

During the show listed activities (they can be found under ‘associated events' on the All-Energy website) include demonstrations of ‘flying cameras', and access equipment, to seminars on Modelling regional wind farm visibility intensity; International Payments: Strategies for mitigating the risks from international trade; as well as a workshop run by MERiFIC – Marine Energy in Far Peripheral and Island Communities –designed to help participants learn about, and discuss, the many policy facets and business resources available within the emerging marine renewable energy sector.

UK Trade and Investment, as well as running sessions in the All-Energy conference, is facilitating a number of free one-to-one meetings with UKTI Market Specialists and visiting company delegations on the UKTI. Specialists are currently attending from the following markets:- Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, and USA. Following the Iberian Supply Chain session, in the offshore wind stream of the conference (24 May), there will be an opportunity for one-to-one meetings with the speakers from Iberdrola, EDP and Repsol, and the turbine manufacturers Gamesa and Alstom to discuss potential areas of business and future involvement in offshore projects.

Further information on all aspects of All-Energy 2012 is available at www.all-energy.co.uk and registration is at www.all-energy.co.uk/register