Pictured is Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change talking to Iain Scrimger, Business Development Manager - Burntisland Fabrications Ltd, and Neil Henderson, Director - Burntisland Fabrications Ltd. Fife offers excellent opportunities for renewable energy companies was the  message from Invest in Fife at All Energy 2010.

Fife offers excellent opportunities for renewable energy companies was the message from Invest in Fife at All Energy 2010.

Eight companies with specialist renewables and the wider energy sector expertise made up the Fife stand, organised by Fife Council’s Market Development Programme, at the conference and exhibition in Aberdeen on 19 and 20 May.

Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, visited the Invest in Fife stand to meet with Bifab, which recently announced a deal with Scottish and Southern Energy for £11million - a move which will enhance the company’s overall competitiveness.

In addition to the equity stake, SSE has secured an agreement with BiFab for the supply of a minimum of 50 jacket substructures per year, beginning around the year 2014 and lasting about 10 to 12 years.

BiFab, located on the Energy Park Fife in Methil, is a world leader in the design and supply of jacket substructures for the offshore wind sector and this latest investment will help create one of the best manufacturing facilities in Europe.

With more than 100 contacts made at the Invest in Fife stand, feedback from the companies has been positive. Neil Henderson, Director, Burntisland Fabrications Ltd (BiFab) said: “This year was a great event; we’ve had a number of very productive conversations over the two days, which demonstrate how buoyant the market is going to be.”

Fife offers a broad range of benefits to the renewable energy sector, not only in fabrication but also in marine consultancy, education and training. This year, Fife-based marine environmental consultants SMRU Ltd, Rosyth marine research and development specialists QinetiQ, and Dunfermline-based Carnegie College all attended the event and reported an increase in enquiries for their services.

Fife Council’s Development Manager, Robin Presswood, spoke at the Power in the Regions plenary session. A packed audience heard about the work Fife Council is doing to help bring to life the economic advantages presented by the move to a low carbon economy.

Invest in Fife also launched the Fife Infrastructure Opportunities brochure at All Energy 2010. The brochure describes the benefits to renewable energy companies of locating in Fife and gives details of various development opportunities available in the area.