Abu Dhabi, UAE 13th January 2013 - A host of top Scottish renewable energy companies and institutions are set to exhibit on the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi this week, as links between the Emirates and Scotland's energy sector go from strength to strength.

With eleven Scottish exhibitors, WFES 2013 will be hosting the largest Scottish delegation to date. The group will be led by Scottish Development International, Scotland's economic development agency, and companies participating in the summit will be looking to develop new collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing agreements with companies and institutions in the GCC.

Mark Hallan, EMEA director at Scottish Development International, will also be attending the summit with the aim of promoting Scotland as a world-class location for low carbon technologies. He said: "The GCC represents one of our biggest investment markets both in terms of Scottish energy companies doing business in this region as well as being a source of significant investment back into Scotland.  Last year our First Minister attended the Summit and we signed a Framework for Action with Masdar.  This year we are again confident of developing our extensive energy contacts and promoting a wide range of new business opportunities across the energy sector, from oil and gas to renewables and clean energy."

On the broader energy front, Scotland boasts a quarter of Europe's wind and tidal power potential and aims to generate the equivalent of 100 percent of its own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020.  The country is continuing to take forward its Framework for Action (FFA) with Masdar, looking at developing a comprehensive renewable energy plan with the UAE.

One of the institutions from the Scottish delegation, the Scottish Institute for Solar Energy Research (SISER), will be taking part in meetings with Masdar during the course of the week. The objective of these meetings is to discuss potential knowledge-transfer to countries in the GCC region and how SISER could help start up new companies in the region, based on existing IP that could be licensed to players in this market.

The hope is that by working together, the UAE and Scotland can be pioneers in a power revolution, by combining their legacy, experience and diversified investment in alternative sources of energy.

Mr Hallan continued: "Energy forms the cornerstone of Scotland's bilateral trade and investment partnership with the GCC, and this relationship continues to mature as we combine our mutual strengths and experience in alternative energy. Our attendance at this summit will allow some of Scotland's brightest energy companies  to showcase their expertise to develop, manage and integrate cost-effective energy solutions for a broad range of GCC-based customers, and we look forward to having some productive discussions with our industry counterparts this week."

Scottish companies scheduled to participate in the summit include:

AppleGreen Homes Ltd

Argent Energy Group Ltd

Atlantic Water Company Ltd

Biomatrix Water Solutions Ltd

Ecoecosse Ltd

Energy Technology Partnership (ETP)

Flexitricity Ltd

Limpet Technology Ltd

Powercrofters Scotland Ltd

Scottish Institute of Solar Energy Research (SISER)

Wren & Bell

About Scottish Enterprise:
Scotland's main economic development agency which aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy. Its role is to help identify and exploit the best opportunities for economic growth. It supports ambitious Scottish companies to compete within the global marketplace and help build Scotland's globally competitive sectors. It also works with a range of partners in the public and private sectors to attract new investment to Scotland and to help create a world-class business environment.  Its international development arm is Scottish Development International.

Scottish Development International (SDI) works with both overseas and Scottish-based companies and organisations. Its mission is to grow the Scottish economy by encouraging inward investment into Scotland and by helping Scottish-based companies to develop trade outside of Scotland. SDI is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its work is guided by the Scottish Government's strategy for economic development in Scotland (www.sdi.co.uk).

Scottish Development International in the Middle East:
The Middle East region is recognised as being a fast growing market which presents valuable opportunities for Scottish organisations and their international growth plans. In response to demand, Scottish Development International opened a Middle East office, in the British Embassy, Dubai in January 2010.  Initially the office was staffed by Regional Manager, Colin Crabbe and International Executive, Moira Bibb.  The team has recently been expanded to include energy expert Gary Soper and ICT and tourism specialist Sreenath Somanath, both of whom join resident food & drink and textiles specialist Moira Bibb. The role of the office is two-fold; Trade and Inward Investment.  Over the past 20 months SDI Dubai office has supported numerous Trade Missions who have visited the region and have helped many Scottish companies to set up offices here or assisted them with their plans to trade in the region.

For more information, please contact: Scottish Government / Scottish Development International: For further information please contact:
Marcus Pepperell /Vadia Rai @ FTI Consulting
marcus.pepperell@fticonsulting.com / vadia.rai@fticonsulting.com
Tel: +971 4 437 2100

© Press Release 2013