Marine Conference & Dinner 2023 Programme

The Scottish Government's draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan consultation for the first time asked: "Should we set a target for marine energy?"

Expert opinion is that a target is welcome, but alone it won't be enough. What is needed is a clear deployment pathway setting out the key milestones we must hit in the coming years to ensure the sector is successful in its journey to full commercialisation.

In this session, leading thinkers in the marine energy sector share their expert views on the proposed deployment pathway.

You’ll learn:

• What a deployment pathway should look like and how it could work
• How a deployment pathway will support the marine energy sector and maintain Scotland’s world leading position
• How industry can navigate the devolved/reserved policy landscape to remove barriers to the deployment pathway

Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Richard Arnold, Policy Director, Marine Energy Council
Tim Hurst, Managing Director, Wave Energy Scotland
Caitlin Byers, Development Manager (Integration & Transition), Crown Estate Scotland

Ministerial Address
Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy, The Scottish Government

Session Sponsored by Blackfish Engineering Design

The European Marine Energy Centre has played a pivotal role in establishing Scotland as the global centre of excellence for marine energy. 

2023 marks 20 years since EMEC was established. This session will reflect on two decades of determination, achievement and learning to establish a marine energy sector and discuss how we build on this to ensure that Scotland remains the home of marine energy.

Chair
Matthew Finn, Commercial Director, EMEC

Speakers
Sue Barr, Chair, Marine Energy Council
Tim Warren, Operations Director, Blackfish Engineering Design
Beth Dickens, Director and Founder, Quoceant

The past 12 months have seen a key milestone reached, with four tidal stream projects securing Contracts for Difference. Outside of the CfD, developers have continued to secure project funding, awards and project wins.

In this session, we bring together key figures from Scotland's marine energy sector to discuss how pivotal these successes are and to debate the realities of keeping Scotland at the forefront of marine energy.

You’ll learn:

• The current status of Scotland’s marine energy sector
• The impact of CfD AR4 and what we can expect to see in future rounds
• The next key steps our industry must take to accelerate progress

Chair
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Andrew Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Orbital Marine Power
Gavin McPherson, Associate Director of Policy & Research, Nova Innovation
Ian Crossland, Commercial Director, Mocean Energy
David Taaffe, Chief Operating Officer, SAE Renewables
Simon Grey, Chief Executive, AWS Ocean Energy Ltd

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

The Marine Conference Dinner 2023 will take place directly following the conference sessions at the InterContinental Edinburgh The George.

Further information regarding the dinner is available.