Marine Conference 2022 Programme

The current global situation has thrown the importance of energy security, local supply chains and secure jobs into sharp relief - the marine energy industry has shown it can deliver all three. Much has been achieved but there is the potential for so much more.

In this session leading thinkers in the marine energy sector share their expert views on what it will take to turn Scotland from an early innovator into a marine energy powerhouse.

In this session you’ll learn:

• How we set a vision for Scotland’s marine energy sector
• What’s needed to catalyse further deployment and reach full commercialisation
• The opportunities and challenges of making wave and tidal technologies mainstream

Chair
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Ministerial Address
Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise

Speakers
Caitlin Byers, Development Manager (Integration & Transition), Crown Estate Scotland
Richard Arnold, Policy Director, UK Marine Energy Council
Henry Jeffrey, Head of Policy and Innovation Group, Institute for Energy Systems, The University of Edinburgh
Rob Flynn, Commercial Manager, EMEC
Tim Hurst, Managing Director, Wave Energy Scotland

Q & A

We look forward to an engaging conversation about how the environment around investment in marine renewables is rapidly changing.

 The introduction of a ringfence for tidal technologies within the Contracts for Difference auction has created a buzz around marine technologies and we are seeing more interest in marine investment. The wider environmental, social and governance agenda has also picked up pace, which means the opportunities are opening up for gathering investment around our offshore wave and tidal technologies.

In this session we will discuss the changing reflection of the finance markets in relation to the newer technologies that will help support a diverse energy mix to get us to net-zero. 

Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Andrew Smith, Partner, Greenbackers Investment Capital
Alasdair Campbell, Investment Executive, Asset Management, InfraRed Capital Partners Limited

While the policy evolves, Scotland’s developers push forward with getting more technology into the water and onto the grid. We see the successes in the headlines, but that’s not the full story.

In this session, we bring together key figures from Scotland’s marine energy sector to discuss and debate the good, the bad and the ugly of keeping Scotland at the forefront of marine energy and the reality of being a world leader.

In this session you’ll learn:

• The current status of Scotland’s marine energy sector
• Where does Scotland currently stand on the global marine energy stage and who is snapping at our heels?
• The next key steps for our industry to maintain and accelerate progress

Chair
Elain MacRae, Head of Energy Strategy, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Speakers
Andrew Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Orbital Marine Power
Gavin McPherson, Head of Policy & Research, Nova Innovation
Cameron McNatt, Managing Director, Mocean Energy Ltd
Sean Parsons, Director of External Affairs, SIMEC Atlantis

Q & A

Closing remarks
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Guests of the conference dinner are invited to join us for a sparkling drinks reception.

The Marine Conference Dinner will take place directly following the conference the same venue, the Intercontinental Edinburgh The George Hotel.

Read more about the dinner here.