Glasgow hosts major All-Energy conference

Scotland’s first Minister has highlighted the urgency to unlock the country’s green energy potential.

At a speech at the All-Energy and Dcarbonise Conference 2023 in Glasgow on Wednesday, his first to the business community since taking up his post around six weeks ago, Humza Yousaf spoke about the importance of a just transition and how the need to reach net zero represented a huge opportunity for Scotland.

He said: “I often say that as First Minister, first and foremost, my most important job is that I want to leave this planet in a much better state than it currently is.

“I want to ensure there is a sustainable future for my children and for their children to come. So we are committed to that Just Transition not just as a government policy, but frankly, as a moral imperative.

“We are as enthusiastic about that as we are about the economic opportunity.”

He also called for collaboration between governments and countries across the world.

He added: “And I believe that if we work together, we can truly unlock and unleash that potential which is in the best interests of Scotland, the UK as a whole and Europe, certainly as well as the rest of the world. And so, for me, I'm very determined to work closely with the UK Government.”

All Energy event photo

The event, attended by Salix representatives, on May 10 and 11, is being held at Glasgow’s SEC. More than 250 exhibitors from 15 countries are exhibiting with more than 500 speakers in nineteen theatres.

Salix Finance programme manager Heather Jones said: “It’s been fascinating listening to the speakers as well as catching up with colleagues from Scottish Government, and university and local authority clients.

“We all share a passion for decarbonisation and shaping how we reach ambitious net zero targets.

“By working together, we can achieve remarkable things.”

The event also heard from Patrick Harvie MSP – Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights.

Harvie spoke about taking the heat in buildings strategy into the most difficult stage, the delivery of the heat decarbonisation. The Minister highlighted the partnership with colleagues in Denmark to learn from their approach to heat decarbonisation in the past and now.

Events include the Civic Reception to welcome visitors to Glasgow,  a ‘Meet the Developer’ event with one-to-one meetings; the Hydrogen Hub with its Technology Showcase; the Arnold Clark Electric Car Showroom.  Speakers also came from Scottish Power, Committee on Climate Change, Energy Saving Trust, Scottish Enterprise, Shell UK, Glasgow City Council, Octopus Energy & Midlothian Council.

Scottish Government shared case studies of projects supported to date through funding schemes for heat networks and social housing.

 

Key topics:

  • How the UK will create a zero-carbon power system by 2035, through nuclear, solar, onshore & offshore wind and more.
  • Local sustainable supply chains are critical for building the economy through local jobs and building energy resilience ever more important due to unstable global energy market and volatile unit energy prices.
  • Removing constraints to projects is key e.g., planning restrictions and poor electricity grid infrastructure.