Renewables Growth Prompts Return of Humber Business Conference to UK

A second major business conference focusing on the Humber’s renewable energy industry is being staged to meet growing demand for information on the rapidly-expanding market.

Organisers say the latest event will see companies being urged to act now, to seize the opportunities available as the region becomes the UK’s capital of green power, including offshore wind.

The Renewing The Humber conference, to be held on September 22, at the Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort, North Lincolnshire, will provide detailed advice to SMEs on how to enter the emerging market, as well as explaining ways in which firms can secure work with global players.

It comes after the first Renewing The Humber event in February attracted more than 200 business and industry leaders to the University Of Hull, with presentations from organisations including Associated British Ports, Vestas, E.ON, Footprint Renewables and Pulse Tidal.

The Humber is emerging as the UK’s hub for renewable energy and stands to benefit from an estimated £15 billion investment in offshore wind power alone, with locations such as Hull being the potential home of large-scale turbine manufacturing by the likes of Siemens.

Ports including Grimsby are also perfectly-positioned to be the home of maintenance and supply vessels that will service vast wind farms in the North Sea.

The conference is being co-run by the Renewables Network – a business organisation that helps firms enter the renewable energy market.

Sam Pick, business development director of the Renewables Network, said the fact a second flagship business event was being held reflected the scale of the green energy market and its importance to the Humber region.

He said: “The renewables industry in our region is underway – contracts are being signed, partnerships forged and the supply chain is forming.

“Indeed, since the first Renewing The Humber event in February, there has been substantial progress and this is only going to accelerate in the months to come.

“That’s why there is a genuine need for a second conference, to provide more information on what’s really happening on the ground, how local SMEs are already winning contracts and how others can join them.”

Speakers already confirmed at the September event include Richard Brough OBE, of Brough Marine Ltd, Chris Holden, from renewable energy developers RES, Julian Martin, of medium wind sector specialists ICE Renewables, and Rhys Thomas, of renewable energy trade association Renewable UK.

Dozens of companies involved in the renewable energy supply chain will also get the opportunity to exhibit at Renewing The Humber.

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Source: Renewables Network , July 07, 2011;