Scotland's wind power firms urged to set sights on China

Published Date: 20 May 2009
By Frank Urquhart

ONE of Scotland's leading renewable energy organisations will today urge the country's green energy companies to grab a lion's share of the rapidly expanding wind power market in China.
In an address to delegates at the opening day of the All Energy '09 exhibition and conference in Aberdeen, Iain Todd of the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) will claim it is vital to seize the "substantial" business opportunities in the Far East to reinforce Scotland's status as a global energy leader.Mr Todd, AREG's renewables champion – who recently attended the Global Wind Energy Conference in Beijing – said yesterday: "China is the fastest-growing market in installed wind ener-gy and there is little doubt it is working towards becoming the dominant nation in this sector as it currently is in other renewable technologies like solar thermal."The country doubled its wind energy capacity in 2007, while the government recently tripled its 2020 target for installed wind to 100,000 megawatts."He continued: "As in many sectors, plans and projects in China are on a scale which tends to dwarf activities elsewhere but Scotland should see this as a significant opportunity to demonstrate and capitalise on its wealth of capabilities. "One of the most exciting opportunities is China's plans for offshore wind farms where, if acted upon quickly, Scottish expertise could have a central part to play."Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that a record number of 45 renewable energy companies, based in the Highlands and Islands, will be joining more than 350 exhibitors from across the globe at this year's annual energy showcase at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.