This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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FREDS prepares for first meeting
09/10/2003
Business leaders, academics and industry experts are among the members of the new Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS).
FREDS, chaired by Deputy Enterprise Minister Lewis Macdonald, is tasked with promoting and encouraging the renewable energy sector and helping Scotland realise its potential as a world leader in the industry.
Announcing the first meeting of FREDS, Mr Macdonald said:
"Maximising economic opportunities and creating real jobs in renewable energy is a top priority for the Executive. More green jobs will benefit our environment and our economy - it is a win win situation.
"Scotland's renewables sector is in its infancy, but with huge potential to lead the world. It's important that we take advantage of our existing expertise in the energy field, combined with Scotland's vast natural resources, to ensure Scotland takes full advantage of domestic and global oportunities.
"FREDS will have a crucial role to play- it will involve key stakeholders and will set targets and milestone for generation, technology, development., jobs and exports. It will also help ensure an effective partnership between government and industry and provide the leadership needed to maximise economic opportunities in this sector.
"The Executive has set an ambitious target of delivering 40 per cent of Scotland's electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. We recognise this is a challenging target, but by working together it can be met. We are also committed to working with the industry to develop a green jobs strategy, which will strongly link to a thriving renewables sector."
The establishment of FREDS was announced earlier this year. It will meet for the first time on October 20 in Edinburgh, and thereafter quarterly.
The Forum's remit is to :
Set targets and milestones for generation, technology development, jobs and exports
Produce an action plan for the promotion and development of marine energy
Produce an action plan for the promotion and development of biomass technology
Build on synergies between Scotland's existing offshore expertise and the commercialisation of offshore wind, wave and tidal technologies
It will also keep a watching brief on UK wide developments, and advise on any action it believes necessary to develop economic opportunities for Scotland in the renewables sector.
Mr Macdonald said :
"I'm very pleased to announce the first members of FREDS - they are all of high calibre, and I am looking forward to working with them to help drive forward opportunities for developing the renewables sector."
The membership is :
Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Chair)
Ian Marchant, Chief Executive, Scottish and Southern Energy
Ian Russell, Chief Executive, Scottish Power
Robert Crawford, Chief Executive, Scottish Enterprise
Sandy Cumming, Chief Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Paul Blakeley, Vice President of Talisman Energy (UK) Limited
Rob Forrest, Head of Scottish Renewables Forum (SRF)
Dr Richard Yemm, Managing Director, Ocean Power Delivery
Ian Bryden, Associate Dean of Faculty of Design and Technology, Robert Gordon University
Tracey White, STUC
Jeremy Sainsbury, Natural Power Consultants
Donald Workman, Director of Corporate and Commercial Banking, Royal Bank of Scotland
Malcolm Twist, Managing Director, Strachan and Henshaw (part of Weir Group plc)
Additional members may be invited to join FREDS in due course including, for example, the Chief Executive of the Energy ITI (when appointed)
Secretariat provided by Scottish Executive.
Comments from members
Ian Bryden, Associate Dean of Faculty of Design and Technology, Robert Gordon University:
"Developing the technology that can efficiently and cost-effectively make use of sustainable energy to the benefit of Scotland and the Scottish economy is extremely challenging - for academic researchers and for the industry.
"The new Forum can help us provide direction to developments and help ensure we pool our intellectual and innovative resources."
Paul Blakeley, Vice President of Talisman Energy (UK) Limited said:
"I believe that taking renewable energy into the deep offshore environment will maximise the sustainable resource potential of Scotland in a way that was never envisaged just a few years ago. The challenges that we face to achieve this vision will most easily be tackled by bringing all stakeholders together.
"I therefore believe this new Forum will provide much needed coherence in helping to deliver such a significant benefit to Scotland."
IanMarchant, Chief Executive of Scottish and Southern Energy , said:
"We are the fourth largest company inScotland owning and operating around half of theUnited Kingdom's renewable generation capacity. I'm pleased therefore to be a founding member of FREDS, as it is bringing together key players from across the sector to focus on making the most of the potential for growth in renewable energy."