The Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC) was officially opened at the University of Aberdeen by The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland, on Monday 17 August 2009. SEGEC is a new initiative, promoted by the Scottish Government, with support from Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. SEGEC will work closely with existing organisations to provide added value services, and will support the European activities of the Energy Technology Partnership. The University of Aberdeen host SEGEC at their campus in Old Aberdeen.
SEGEC was awarded funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ERDF Programme 2007-13, and is also seeking funding from the Highlands and Islands ERDF Programme.
SEGEC has begun delivery of services, further details of which can be found at the website: http://www.segec.org.uk/
Aims
To support sustainable economic growth and the EU's sustainable energy targets
To promote the internationalisation of sustainable energy research
To foster good practice in the development and deployment of green energy
Services
SEGEC will act as a focal point and catalyst for European activity for the green energy, providing additional resources and value added services to support the development of the sector.
SEGEC's Operational Objectives focus on three main areas of activity:
Influencing policy
Accessing funding
Dissemination of information, ideas, project results
SEGEC will offer a team of staff combining expertise in energy policy, research and deployment, European policy and funding, and development and management of projects.
SEGEC provide advice and support to Scottish organisations with an interest in green energy - industry, academia, public and third sector - to:
· engage with European institutions, networks and partners
· identify opportunities
· develop collaborative projects and high quality funding proposals
· communicate the work of their projects
Key Priorities
SEGEC will aim to support a wide range of activity across different technologies and sectors, but the following have been identified as priorities, reflecting Scotland's key resources, opportunities and constraints:
· marine energy - wave and tidal
· wind energy, particularly offshore wind
· grid development
· carbon capture and storage
· renewable heat
· energy efficiency
· sustainable communities
· non-technical barriers to deployment, including environmental issues
Further Information
The Scottish European Green Energy Centre's Business plan
Economic Appraisal of the Scottish European Green Energy Centre
Past events
12-14 October 2008 - The SEGEC study visit to Norway
14-16 September 2009 - The European Offshore Wind Conference and Exhibition, Stockholm. SEGEC will be hosting a session at the conference entitled "Scotland's Offshore Wind Story", on 15 September 2009 from 1400-1600. For further information and to register, please go to the Conference's web pages
Upcoming events
4 December 2009 - Scotland Europa/Dundee University seminar discussion on the new EU Renewables Directive and its implementation and implications for Scotland. To view the agenda and register your participation in this event, please follow the link to the event website http://renewableenergyscotland.eventbrite.com/