Investing in Renewables: The Green Finance Opportunity Programme

The net-zero ambition and the energy transition it demands are driving change at an unprecedented pace. There is a lot of talk about gaps in finance and investment, but have we really made the most of the art of the possible with blending finance products and tools?

This session will hear leading industry experts share their insights on the current financial environment and the implications for your projects.

In this session, you'll learn:

• What the role of different funding options are in relation to the sector and what different institutions offer
• Hear from companies operating in both generation and supply chain giving their experience and insight into how funding works for them
• Understand how different funding models will affect overall project economics

Opening Remarks & Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Eddie McAvinchey, Banking & Investments – Scotland, UK Infrastructure Bank
Fraser Dobbie, Chief Financial Officer, North Star
Tim Purton, Head of Finance for Transmission Investment, SSEN Transmission
Lara McGrath, Export Finance Manager, UK Export Finance

Recent years have been one of the most challenging financial and economic environments ever seen in the UK, Europe and the US. The impact of the global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have focused minds on the cost of energy and energy security like never before.

In this time of challenge and change for both the renewables and finance sectors, key experts immersed in the market unpack the current investment picture and explore if we recovered from the knocks of 2022/23.

In this session, you'll learn:

• What shifts we are seeing in the money and investment markets in 2024
• The good and the bad – key policy changes which have supported or dented our attractiveness
• What the picture is at different stages of technology readiness 

Chair
Sarah-Jane McArthur, Partner, Brodies

Speakers
Andrew Smith, Partner, Greenbackers
Iain Wintour, Partner, EY
Alasdair Campbell, Director, InfraRed Capital Partners

Realising our renewables ambitions and ensuring projects are deliverable requires strategic investment in key infrastructure and workforce development. Ports, grid and a pool of individuals ready to meet the demand for skilled workers are all essentials for project deliverability and securing investment returns.

Securing strategic ahead-of-time investment continues to be one of the most vexatious problems for industry, investors and the supply chain.

This session will hear from leading experts from across our sectors on the latest thinking on how we tackle this challenge.

Chair
Iain Sinclair, Executive Director, Global Energy Group

Speakers
Vicky O'Connor, Senior Wind Development and Investment Professional, Independent
Clare Foster, Partner and Head of Clean Energy, Shepherd and Wedderburn
Jimmy Williamson, Executive Director – Sustainable Investment, The Scottish National Investment Bank
Andy McAllister, Assistant Director - Advisory Corporate Finance, Deloitte