Technip currently employs around 900 people in Aberdeen and confirmed yesterday in a meeting with Mr Salmond and Senior Executives that it would indeed be basing its North Sea renewable operations to Aberdeen. Scotland’s First Minister described the decision as “a huge vote of confidence in Scotland’s position as a global leader in renewables innovation, and underlines the massive wealth of human capital and engineering knowledge in the North-east”.

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Bob Collier, said: “We must continue to look for opportunities to diversify our economy in order to provide a secure economic future for the region. Developing a global renewables industry in the region is a natural extension of current strengths and an achievable goal.”

Technip chairman, Thierry Pilenko, said: “The group’s operating centre in Aberdeen will be able to capitalise on its expertise in offshore operations, fleet management and project execution to tackle the challenges of the renewable energy industry and succeed in its new assignment.”

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

The announcement is expected to arise from Salmond’s visit to Paris to discuss potential “unprecedented” investment opportunities in Scotland with French Energy Executives. The Firswt Minister hopes to hold “roundtable discussions” with firms working in tidal and wave renewables, including the French energy giant EDF, Total and Veolia.

Mr Salmond said he would be meeting the “key figures from the leading companies in France’s energy sector” in pursuance of his policy “to harness clean, green energy and meet our climate change targets that are the toughest in the industrialised world”.

The First Minister highlighted the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney as “the world’s only accredited test facility for wave and tidal energy devices” and the £10m Saltire Prize for the development of a commercially viable device generating renewable wave or tidal energy for two years.

Salmond said: “With such abundant natural resources, we must continue to collaborate with international energy companies to ensure Scotland’s opportunity becomes the world’s opportunity and that we continue to work with other nations to meet the global challenge of climate change.”

We hope that the Salmond secures the potential investment, enabling Scotland to take another step towards its vision as the “Powerhouse of Europe”.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

There have long been calls for the scheme to use subsea cabling to minimize the visual impact in areas of outstanding natural beauty; however the Scottish Government and the public inquiry have both rejected these alternative options on cost.

Revealed in The Herald, the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 2 (NPF) – published in June 2009 but overshadowed by other announcements at the time – clearly shows that in the footnotes to Jim Mather’s announcement, there is confirmation that subsea cabling will be needed in addition to the pylons.

A partnership with the UK Government for pursuing a subsea option has been confirmed by the footnotes.  Jim Mather said it would mean “… developing off shore subsea cable links between the Scottish mainland and the islands and links to the UK for export”.

David Infield, head of renewable energy technologies at Strathclyde University, said: “We have always regarded Beauly-Denny as an essential reinforcement. There is enormous potential for renewables and indeed in the longer term Beauly-Denny won’t be enough.

“I have just been looking at the consented but not built wind farms in the north of Scotland, and there is something like a thousand megawatts worth. That will gobble up much of the Beauly-Denny capacity. And that is without new wave or tidal stream power generation installations.

“We need to get on and get required transmission capacity installed now or developers will be discouraged from further investment.

“Beauly-Denny, alongside new east coast and sub-sea cables, will all be needed if Scotland is to truly exploit its considerable renewable energy potential.”

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Salmond has predicted a “renewables revolution” stemming from Scotland, which has won the “lottery” in terms of its natural resources with the capacity to produce around ten times Scotland’s own electricity requirements. Salmond highlighted the Climate Change Act – setting legally-binding targets to cut Scottish greenhouse gas emissions by 42% and 80% by 2020 and 2050 respectively – as the most important legislation passed by the parliament in 2009.

He said: “In Copenhagen I spoke about Scotland’s energy potential, our green energy potential, our ambition to be the energy powerhouse of Europe. Many countries saw the lead that Scotland was taking as an example of the legislation and of the action that must be taken to protect our planet collectively. Despite the disappointment of Copenhagen, people power internationally will force political leadership to commit to the ambitious targets for their countries that Scotland has already set.”

The First Minister, however, has continually been pushing for more independence and the devolution of power from Whitehall in what has been described by many as a “personal power struggle”.

The First Minister continues: “Even now, we’re being held back in the exploitation of these renewables because we now have to pay in Scotland much higher connection charges to the electricity grid than companies have to pay south of the border. That’s totally unfair and totally unacceptable.

“If we’re going to make the most of this renewable revolution, then we’re going to have to have equal access to the grid – and the powers for our parliament to secure that proper access.

“And that’s why it’s important, as we move into this New Year, that the people of Scotland are given their say in making sure that their parliament can extend its powers to have the ability to mobilise the resources of Scotland for Scotland’s benefit.

“The referendum on the constitution is not an abstraction – it’s not something for politicians. It’s something for every person in Scotland. Because if we’re going to harness the power of Scotland, then we need to give Scotland power.

We can all agree with Salmond’s proposal for equal access to the national grid, however it seems Salmond is playing upon our patriotic sentiments to push this referendum through Holyrood; when instead should be focusing on returning our nation to growth and the development and support of renewable projects.

We welcome your views.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Nick Parker, Chairman of the Cleantech Group, has published his clean tech predictions for 2010. His predictions are as follows:

1. Private capital growth recovers, record fund year.

2. Clean economies become the new space race.

3. Electric cars take the back seat to smart mobility.

4. Resource constraints beyond carbon rise to the fore.

5. Commodity tradeoff debates intensify.

6. Energy efficiency, driven by ICT, eclipses solar.

7. Marketing suddenly matters.

8. Buffett leads the super rich into Cleantech.

9. Acquisitions and consolidations accelerate.

10. The rise of waste-to-energy, geothermal and aquaculture.

You can see the full article here: Ten Clean Technology Predictions For 2010

Here are a few of our own for Scotland:

1. Energy efficiency will be presented as a recession busting opportunity to householders that will overtake domestic solar and wind generators.

2. There will be a massive investment in training drivers to be fuel and energy efficient. Most notably, HGV drivers.

3. Retro-fitting of zero energy waste building insulation through government grants.

4. Change of consumer buying habits – consumers will soon choose home applicances based on the amount of energy they consume.

5. International electronics manufacturers will lead a revolution in the amount of energy appliances use.

6. Grants for the creation of community heating schemes.

7. Widespread speed limit reductions to reduce fuel consumption.

8. A large rise in take up of teleworking (reducing transport costs and emissions).

9. Marketing tactics will change and environmental impact will be a key decision maker when it comes to choosing products and services.

10. Cleantech will continue to draw massive investment in Scotland through renewables.

What are your clean technology predictions for the UK in 2010? Simply fill out the comment box, email us or get in touch via Twitter.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

There is currently enough wind farms, hydro and marine renewable schemes in planning to generate over 26,000 megawatts of electricity.

Scotland’s 2020 target currently stands at around 8,000MW which could be more than tripled if all schemes had planning permission approved.  Notwithstanding the environmental concerns surrounding a plethora of wind farms; Scottish Natural Heritage has said that the figures show “excellent progress” is being made towards renewable energy generation in Scotland.

The report confirmed that 2,834MW of renewables are up and running, 3,739MW have been granted planning permission and are awaiting construction.  There is 19,500MW of potential renewables currently in the planning process.

“Thus, Scotland can easily meet its existing renewables ambitions, and could easily meet 100 per cent of our electricity needs, based on the resource available,” said the report.

Jane Clark, the head of sustainable land use at SNH, said: “Scotland possesses exceptional renewable energy resources and the industry is expanding rapidly. Our role is to help developers and planners to exploit this huge potential at an acceptable cost to equally outstanding, and economically valuable, landscapes and wildlife.”

Jenny Hogan at Scottish Renewables said: “If we are serious about climate change, then we need to be serious about the rapid growth of wind power both on and offshore in the next decade.  With the equivalent of around a quarter of Scotland’s electricity demand coming from renewables, there is still a very long way to go.”

Four years ago, a fifty percent target seemed almost unachievable; now a one hundred percent target could be possible as long as we continue to support and drive investment in renewables.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

“This is excellent news for us and another step towards helping Scotland meet its renewable energy targets. We’re especially pleased the planning report recognised the benefits this project will bring to the local community and beyond, said EO.N’s Dungravel Project Manager, Ahmed Mulla.

Construction of the wind farm is expected to start in early 2011.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

The winners are:

Best Management award

• Large company category (more than 250 employees): Robert Wiseman Dairies, procurer of Scotland’s iconic milk brand and supermarket favourites ‘freshnlow’ and ‘The One’, based in Bellshill.
• Medium (between 50 and 250 employees): Manufacturer of window and door units, CMS Enviro Systems Ltd, of Cumbernauld.
• Small (less than 50 employees): Edinburgh-based Rabbie’s Trail Burners Ltd – a highland group tour company, operating luxury fuel-efficient mini-coaches with driver guides.

Product award

• TWMA of Peterhead – an industry leader in the handling and treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated drill cuttings and waste materials, for its unique product, TCC Rotomill, which processes drill cuttings from oil-based Drilling Mud.

Service award

• The Linwood base of recycling and waste management company William Tracey Ltd.

Process award

• Local bus operator Stagecoach West Scotland, based in Ayr for using the UK’s first Bio-buses which run on 100 per cent bio-fuel.

International co-operation award

• The UK’s largest developer of onshore wind farms Glasgow-based Scottish Power Renewables, in a joint venture with the Norwegian organisation, Hammerfest Strom UK Ltd, to commercialise tidal stream technology and pursue tidal energy projects in the UK.

Best micro company

• H20logy Ltd from Selkirk collects, manages, redistributes and treats water. For its ATS (Advanced Treatment Station) for the treatment and decontamination of road water.

In addition, seven companies will be awarded special commended prizes. The East Kilbride depot of Robert Wiseman Dairies and FMC Technologies Ltd in Dunfermline, a provider of technology solutions for the energy industry will receive the accolade in the best management large category. Livingston-based oatcake and shortbread manufacturer Paterson Arran Ltd picks up a commendation in the medium-size best management category and commended in the best management small category is Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes. For the service award both Keenan Recycling Ltd in Turriff and Cupar’s The ReCyclists will receive commendations while Paton Plant Ltd (Portakabin Scottish Division), of Hamilton, will take home the product commendation.

Now in its tenth year of operation, VIBES recognises and rewards the efforts of Scottish businesses to become more efficient and competitive through improving environmental performance and benefiting a company’s bottom-line.

Presenting the awards, Minister for Environment Roseanna Cunningham said:

“Many Scottish businesses, including those recognised at the VIBES Awards, are becoming increasingly aware that tackling their environmental impact can also deliver major economic benefits – both through cutting costs and attracting new business.

“Scotland is of course very well-placed to capitalise on the greener business revolution and become a world leader when it comes to providing green technologies of the future such as wave and tidal energy and offshore wind.

“Throw into the mix our climate change legislation – the most ambitious in the world – and our vision for a low carbon, zero waste Scotland, and it’s clear that there is much work to do.

“Of course we cannot complete that journey on our own, and I was delighted to meet and congratulate representatives from some of Scotland’s most environmentally-friendly businesses who can act as a source of inspiration to others.”

Source: The Gov Monitor

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Proactive Energy, a new and pioneering renewable energy company has had its plans for a five megawatt anaerobic digestion plant approved.  The plant will be the first to adorn the new M74 Eco-Park, based between Glasgow and Carlisle.  Construction will start by April 2010 and the plant is scheduled to begin operations by the first quarter of 2011.

Methane rich biogas will be generated by using bacterial cultures on organic waste within enclosed silos.  The captured biogas will be burnt in fuel engines to generate electricity, which can then be fed into the National Grid.  Proactive Energy has said it is currently looking for sources of organic waste.

Ron Coakley, director of Proactive Energy commented: “We’re absolutely delighted that our new, sustainable biogas plant has been given the go-ahead.  I would like to say a huge thank you to South Lanarkshire Council for all the help and support they have provided throughout the planning process.”

“Our total commitment to a cleaner and safer environment is supported by our initial £22.5 million investment. This demonstrates our ambition and vision for providing state-of-the-art and cost effective waste disposal solutions with huge environmental spin-offs.”

Councillor Graham Scott, chair of the Planning Committee which approved the proposal, said: “This is an exciting plan, and one of the most unique we have seen at this committee. As an alternative to landfill it is in itself to be welcomed, but the developer’s commitment to recycling and re-use across the facility is genuinely admirable.”

This is another step in the right direction in achieving Scotland’s renewable energy vision.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

We would like to encourage participation in our first topic and would like to know what is important to you. For this reason we are asking people to email or @ us with your ideas on what the first topics should be (preferably an issue that has split opinion). We will then start these topics in the forum and invite anyone to comment.

Please email info@cleantechscotland.com or @cleantechscot with your discussion ideas.

The CTS Team

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts