Carraig Gheal Wind Farm - Working with Wind Trade Seminar (Press Release)

[May 9th 2005]

GreenPower and Highlands and Islands Enterprise today announced ‘Working With Wind', a trade seminar to take place in Oban on the 16 th May.

The day will feature speakers from GreenPower, as well as major players in the Scottish contracting, civil engineering, turbine construction and legal sectors. The aim is to allow businesses interested in working on the construction and operation of wind farms a better understanding of the product and services required and how their skills might be transferable to the wind energy sector.

The seminar will be held at The Corran Halls and coincides with increasing interest in the future of the renewables industry in Argyll. Delegates are being invited to register due to limited space, although the event is free.

‘Working with Wind' is a GreenPower event run with support from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network, who intend the event to promote the work and supply chain opportunities offered to local businesses interested in supplying the wind sector.

Hilary Halley, GreenPower's CR Manager, said that the event would build on work begun earlier in the year in the Loch Awe area. “We held a successful trade-only morning when we consulted on our projects here in January. Since then the profiles of various projects have been raised, so we're definitely expecting more interest now”. Ms Halley added: “We are hoping that businesses will be able to come away with a good understanding of the kinds of skills that are needed on projects like our proposed Carraig Gheal Project.

“In order to help local companies explore the opportunities offered by wind farms in the Highlands and Islands area, we are offering a free seminar that will be the first step in identifying the skills companies have that are transferable to the wind industry.”

Speakers at the seminar will look at wind farm construction from different perspectives include representatives from GreenPower talking about project development, Alfred McAlpine breaking down the construction stages into bite sized contracts, Vestas Celtic explaining the requirements of a turbine manufacturer and Anderson Strathern advising on ways to improve your tender application for a major contract.

Discussing the relationship between onshore wind projects and local business, Robert Forrest, Chief Executive said: “At GreenPower we are committed to maximising the local content and benefits of our projects. This includes contracting with local companies – large or small – during the construction and operation of wind farms. We hope to be part of the communities in which we operate for at least twenty five years and we believe we can have a significant positive impact on the local economies.”

T he seminar takes place at the Corran Halls, Oban on Monday May 16 th from 9.30am – 1pm. Places are free, but due to demand, advance registration is required.

Local companies wishing to reserve a place at the seminar are invited to contact Hilary Halley on 01259 272158 or hilary@greenpowerinternational.com