First Minister Alex Salmond
10th World Renewable Energy Congress
SECC, Glasgow
Monday 21 July
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Ladies and gentlemen, I'm delighted to welcome the 10th World Renewable Energy Congress to Glasgow, and to Scotland.
Since its establishment in 1992, the World Renewable Energy Network has established itself as a key partner in the global campaign to promote renewable energy - bringing together agencies, researchers, companies and institutions from across the world with a shared purpose.
Scotland has previously hosted a Regional Meeting and Exhibition, but it is a great honour for us to host the full Congress for the first time.
With hundreds of delegates from more than 100 countries, this Congress is truly a global gathering.
Let me start by thanking everyone who has been involved in arranging this event, and those who have sponsored it.
Let me in particular thank Professor Sayigh, Dr Cameron Johnstone and all the other members of the Committee for their tireless work in building and leading the Congress.
Ladies and gentlemen, the spirit of international partnership at the heart of this forum resonates strongly in Scotland - and particularly in the field of energy.
In government, in business and in academia, we are reaching out across Europe and beyond in pursuit of our ambitions.
And I know that this year's event will build on that, helping us to further deepen our expertise and to build new links in the renewable energy sector.
This morning, I want to address three topics:
First, to reflect on how the debate on renewable energy has moved forward since the last Congress met in Florence.
Second, I want to set out Scotland's total commitment to advancing renewable energy - and the actions we are taking to maximise the productive potential of our vast resources.
And third, I want to set out our longer-term ambitions to become world leaders in renewables.
Progress in the global debate
Over the two years since this Congress last met, the debate on renewable energy has moved strongly in your direction.
Much of that progress has been driven by the conclusions of the Stern Report, and the growing body of evidence of climate change's global impact.
As the G8, the European Union and the United Nations focus on how to respond to that challenge and how to reduce our carbon emissions, renewable energy comes up time and time again as an answer.
And, for that matter, the answer to many other pressing questions.
Such as how to ensure a secure energy future in a world where the hydrocarbon reserves are finite, and held in some regions affected by political instability.
And how to meet the energy needs of our remote and rural communities, in areas where conventional sources of power are not available.
Today we see that rising fossil fuel prices are affecting hard-pressed businesses and families in Scotland and internationally.
There are few upsides to this price shock. However, one is that it strengthens the competitive position of the renewables sector, providing greater incentives for commercialisation.
And higher oil prices should also strengthen the resolve of countries to meet ambitious targets for renewable energy generation.
The Scottish Government has already set a target to generate at least 31% of our electricity demand from renewables by 2011 - and at least 50% of that demand by 2020.
As I will outline shortly, we are taking the necessary steps to meet our commitments.
Scotland is, of course, far from alone. And we are encouraged by the continued evidence of rising international investment in renewable energy, particularly over the past two years.
According to the latest report from the United Nations Environmental Programme on sustainable energy investment, sustainable energy accounted for 24% of the new power generation capacity added worldwide in 2007.
And last year a record breaking €148 billion of new investment - roughly equivalent to the total annual GDP of Scotland - was raised around the world for sustainable energy; a figure that was up 60% on 2006.
Scotland 's commitment to renewable energy
Some four decades ago, the discovery of oil in the North Sea laid the foundations for Scotland to play a global role in world energy markets.
Today this country remains a major oil and gas producer. But we know full well that hydrocarbons are finite - and we see the pollution they can cause.
So we are embracing technologies such as carbon capture and storage to minimise their environmental impact of fossil fuels.
And our primary focus is on building a long-term energy future for Scotland built on clean, renewable energy.
Scotland has vast potential in renewable energy, unrivalled in Europe.
We have around a quarter of both Europe's tidal and offshore wind capacity, and 10% of its potential in wave power. We have opportunities in hydro-power, onshore wind and biomass.
And real opportunities in solar power too.
Indeed, nearly half of the 2,500 grants the Scottish Government has provided so far for household renewables have gone towards the installation of solar technologies.
All in all, we have the potential to generate more than 60 Gigawatts from renewables - enough to meet Scotland's peak electricity demand more than 10 times over.
So it's fair to say that Scotland has won the natural lottery for a second time.
Already, we are harnessing that immense potential - with the spirit of innovation and invention that has been so evident throughout Scotland's history very much to the fore.
We have the world's first community owned renewable hydrogen project, the UK's largest dedicated biomass energy plant, Europe's flagship project for deep offshore wind.
We've granted consent for the world's largest commercial wave farm, in Orkney.
And there are a host of renewable energy developments in place throughout the country, from small scale community developments to major schemes generating significant amounts of power.
My Government is working in partnership with business and academia to develop and commercialise key technologies, to ensure that Scotland has a truly world-leading renewable energy sector.
We have a renewables obligation that provides the UK's highest level of support for wave and tidal generation. We've tripled funding for community and micro-renewables.
And we will soon set out our plans for a wide range of actions to significantly increase the generation and use of renewable heat in Scotland.
I am confident we can build a commercially viable, diverse renewable heat sector. And already we are seeing examples of Scottish companies using renewable heat on a large scale.
Only last Friday I visited Tullis Russell paper makers in Fife to congratulate them, and their partners Npower Cogen, on the offer of a Scottish Government grant of over £8 million for the development of a major 45 MW combined heat and power biomass plant.
For the company involved, it will mean the efficient, responsible and sustainable provision of steam and electricity.
For the Scottish economy, it will mean the creation of 30 new jobs, and the safeguarding of over 500 existing jobs.
And for the world at large, it will mean the paper mill's carbon emissions will be reduced by around 250,000 tonnes each year.
In our first 14 months in office, we've granted consent for 11 major new renewables projects.
And today, I can announce that we have granted consent to a proposal by Airtricity Developments UK Ltd for the new Clyde wind farm in South Lanarkshire.
With consent for an installed capacity of 548 MW, this project is the largest single consented wind farm under development in Europe. And it represents a very important step in the development of renewable energy in Scotland and towards meeting our targets.
Approval of Clyde will mean that total installed capacity, either built or consented and under construction in Scotland, will now be 4.5 GW - just 500 MW short of the 5GW we need to make our 2011 target on renewables.
Over 2 GW of further applications are currently being processed and will be determined in due course.
Scotland 's long-term vision
As we move forward, we will concentrate our efforts on three broad areas.
In supporting development of new technology.
In working to ensure that our transmission capacity matches our ambition.
And in looking beyond our borders, working to help the EU to achieve its energy ambitions and to share Scottish technology and expertise in renewables.
On the first point, we will focus on moving beyond potential - turning pilot projects and world leading research into major commercial applications.
Following a recent consultation, we will ensure that our Renewables Obligation helps Scotland to maintain our leading edge in wave and tidal power.
And in April this year, at the home of the National Geographic magazine in Washington D.C., I was proud to unveil plans for the £10 million Saltire Prize.
This will be one of the world's largest innovation prizes and the largest ever to focus on marine renewables.
Through the Prize we want to stimulate governments, businesses, engineers and scientists across the world - and lead a new wave of innovation on renewable energy.
Our second focus is on ensuring that Scotland has the infrastructure in place to harness our renewable energy potential.
We know that connection to the grid is vital to make full use of Scotland's vast renewable resources.
And, here, our ambitions go well beyond Scotland's borders.
We want to generate trade in energy with Europe. To become a major net exporter of electricity. And to establish Scotland as a key player in the single energy market of the future.
Subsea electricity transmission will be central to our mission - maximising the potential for offshore renewables and enhancing Europe's energy security.
That's why we have commissioned studies exploring future links to the west, from Scotland to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and from our east coast to northern Europe.
Indeed, two weeks ago Scotland's Energy Minister, Jim Mather met with his counterpart in Ireland, Eamon Ryan, to discuss our countries' mutual energy interests.
That brings me on to the third aspect of our approach to renewables - broadening Scotland's global reach.
We will continue to look beyond our borders, to promote Scottish expertise and know-how - and to strengthen partnerships with business, academia and governments around the world.
Harnessing our immense resources will not only benefit Scotland, but the whole of the EU as it seeks to meet its ambitious 2020 renewable energy targets.
We are certainly more than capable of going beyond the 15% target set for the UK as a whole. And this autumn, we will consult on how Scotland will meet our targets.
However, our ambition for renewable energy in Europe is not just to deliver on the targets, but to shape the European energy supply of the future.
Here, Scotland's leading energy research and development will be of significant benefit.
The Scottish European Green Energy Centre in Aberdeen will act as a pan-EU hub of expertise that will drive co-operative research and development into key green technologies across Europe and help our partners meet their own renewable targets.
The Centre has the support of both the European Commission and the UK Government, and I would encourage all delegates to visit its display at the Energy Technology Partnership stand in the exhibition area.
I would like to offer a word of thanks to Professor Jim McDonald and his colleagues for their work in developing that Partnership.
Elsewhere, we will continue to support the efforts of Scottish businesses and organisations to help others and to secure contracts around the world.
In Africa, for example, we are working with the World Bank in Malawi and the Gambia to bring renewable energy to remote village hospitals and schools.
And through the Inter-American Development Bank we are investigating the potential to deploy Scottish marine energy technology in Chile and other parts of Latin America.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, Scotland is a nation with immense renewable energy resources and potential. A track record of innovation and excellence. A world class scientific capacity and skills base.
And with a Government that is absolutely committed to putting Scotland at the forefront of the global energy revolution.
Not just because of the economic and environmental benefits it will bring us, but also because we want to help others around the world to achieve their ambitions. To meet their energy needs, to grow their economies sustainably, and to tackle the growing threat of climate change.
I wish you all the very best of success of this Congress, and for your time in Scotland. Thank you.