Offshore Wind Conference 2021 Programme

Scotland’s economic and environmental challenges are not unique, but our response can be. The decade ahead demands that we reset our economic approach, using the resources in which Scotland abounds to build sustainable infrastructure and create sustainable jobs.

In this session we’ll hear from industry leaders on how 2021 can be the year where Scotland’s offshore project pipeline comes to life and how we can ensure that our climate commitments are matched by Government action at home and abroad. 

In this session you will learn:

• What senior figures think about the state of the industry and our progress in the last year
• What the panel believes are the greatest hurdles to be overcome on the path to 2030 and beyond in Scotland
• How the panel thinks offshore wind can take advantage of new markets and opportunities that are opening up - and how your organisation can get involved at the cutting edge of change

Welcome and Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Panellists
Jim Smith, Managing Director, SSE Renewables
Dr Carolyn Heeps, Head of Offshore Wind, Fred. Olsen Renewables
Olivier Terneaud, Vice President, Offshore Wind, Total 
Dan Finch, Managing Director, Ocean Winds UK
Michael Hannibal, Partner, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Q & A

Learning from the successful development of the UK oil and gas supply chain, what steps are needed to develop a competitive offshore wind supply chain, winning contracts at home and abroad? Perspectives from private and public sectors on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

In this session you will learn:

• How the UK Oil & Gas supply chain has developed into such a global success over many decades, and what lessons can be transferred to offshore wind
• How the Scottish Government is looking to maximise the growth opportunities from offshore wind
• How industry - both developer and supply chain - are addressing the demands and opportunities

Chair
Andrew Macdonald, Senior Innovation Manager and OWGP Lead, ORE Catapult

Speakers
Myrtle Dawes, Solution Centre Director, OGTC
David Stevenson, Head of Energy Supply Chain, Scottish Government
Dave Sweenie, Development Manager, EDF Renewables
Steve Chisholm, Operations Director, Global Energy Group

Q & A

We know that offshore wind can be the backbone of our energy infrastructure, but the scale of its potential role in hydrogen production and offshore electrification has drawn much wider attention from across industries.

This session will explore the synergies that exist and the investment that is needed to meet net-zero emissions right across our economy, as well as looking at how companies at all scales can take advantage of the opportunities offered by the universe’s most abundant element.

In this session you will learn:

• What leading companies are doing to capitalise on the potential market in hydrogen
• Where the panel thinks investments are most needed to bring this market to life
• How collaboration across Scottish industry could maximise our impact on global energy decarbonisation

Chair
Clare Lavelle, Head of Energy Consultancy, Arup

Speakers
Benj Sykes, Head of Market Development, Consenting and External Affairs, Ørsted
Robin Watson CBE, Chief Executive, Wood Group
Molly Iliffe, Principal Consultant – Energy Transition and Hydrogen, ERM
Johan Sandberg, Head of Business Development, Aker Offshore Wind

Q & A

Sponsored by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks Transmission 

The purpose of this session is to provide an update to developers on the work SSEN Transmission and its peers have been progressing to develop a coordinated approach to ScotWind grid connections and associated onshore reinforcements, helping support delivery of 2030 offshore wind targets.

Welcome
Ben Miller, Senior Policy Manager, Scottish Renewables

Chair and Speaker
Greg Clarke, Head of Corporate Affairs Transmission, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks Transmission

Speaker
Lauren Logan, Strategy Officer and Offshore Coordination Lead, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks Transmission

Panellists
Eric Leavy, Head of Transmission Networks, SP Energy Networks
Alice Etheridge, Offshore Coordination Senior Manager, National Grid ESO
Dr. Biljana Stojkovska, Technical Manager Offshore Coordination and Innovation Manager, National Grid ESO

Q & A

We know that there are considerable consenting and infrastructural challenges that, without focussed action now, will act as a brake to realising Scotland’s offshore potential. This session will review what progress is being made in unlocking the environmental and economic benefits that we all want to see from our work. From addressing cumulative ecological impacts to engaging with other marine sectors we will hear from those leading industry and stakeholder efforts to smooth the path ahead.  

In this session you will learn:

• How key consenting themes are being addressed by industry and its partners
• What further action the panel thinks will ensure successful delivery of ScotWind projects, as well as the actions you need to take to ensure the development we all need, happens
• How the offshore wind industry can play a wider role in addressing the biodiversity crisis in our natural environment

Welcome
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Chair
Nancy McLean, Offshore Development Manager, EDF Renewables

Speakers
Dr Monica Fundingsland, Advisor Sustainability, Equinor
Heather Donald, Head of Project Consents, SSE Renewables
Kirsty MacArthur, Director, MacArthur Green and Ross McGregor, Principal Ornithologist, MacArthur Green
Colin Maciver, Senior Development Manager (Offshore Wind), Crown Estate Scotland

Q & A

A close look at the programmes already in place to develop a diverse UK supply chain, and examples of innovation and success in winning business in a highly competitive market. 

In this session you will learn:

• the support programmes available to companies of all sizes and stages of development to take advantage of the growth and opportunities in offshore wind 
• the specific experiences of companies of different sizes and stages of development in breaking into the offshore wind market
• an insight into some of the technology innovations making waves and capturing success

Chair
Isla Robb, Founder, EC20 and Supply Chain and Skills Associate Director, RIDG 

Speakers
Claire Canning, Offshore Wind Growth Partnership Programme Manager, ORE Catapult
Sam Mayall, Director, Offshore Survival Systems
John Giles, Technical Director, W3G Marine
Ian Milne, Sales Manager - Renewables, Balmoral 

Q & A

Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speaker
The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The UK and Scottish Governments have significantly raised the bar again for offshore wind deployment over the next decade. Our international commitments on carbon reduction, in the spotlight at COP26 later this year, are now tied to our ability to deliver projects at a quicker pace than ever before and to lead the world on cost reduction and innovation.

From market structure and supply chain support to offshore transmission and research funding, it is essential that we act collectively and efficiently to deliver clean gigawatts and a green economic recovery. In this session we will focus on what collaboration is already under way and what more we can learn from other offshore markets. Work across all these complex issues needs to be managed and needs to happen simultaneously for us to succeed.

In this session you will learn:

• What further market and regulatory changes might be needed to speed up deployment
• What reflections the panel have from their experiences in other offshore markets
• The latest industry positions on offshore transmission and grid reform

Chair
Adam Morrison, Project Director – Moray West Offshore Wind Farm, Ocean Winds

Speakers
Danielle Lane, Co-Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council & UK Country Director, Vattenfall
Richard Britton, Global Offshore Development Director, ScottishPower
Zoe Barnes, Strategy Manager, Quaybridge
Chris Willow, Head of Floating Wind Development, RWE Renewables
Sarah Pirie, Head of Commercial, Red Rock Power Limited

Q & A