From the moment it opened on 24 May, All-Energy 06 - the UK's largest event devoted to all forms of renewable energy - had a buzz and excitement about it that spoke volumes about how far the renewable and sustainable energy industries have come in six short years. Exhibitors and visitors alike remarked on the 'step change' made in the space of just a year.

The sixth event in the annual Aberdeen-based series of exhibitions and conferences was certainly the most successful in terms of attendance, with 2,850 attending - a 33 per cent increase on the previous year’s figure; nearly 220 exhibiting companies from home and overseas taking part (Belgium, Holland, Japan and Norway figured on the exhibitor list for the first time); and 150 speakers and chairs involved in the vibrant conference - a far cry from the first event with its total attendance of 350 delegates.

Other firsts during the course of the two days included a display of 'cars of the future', the first conference session featuring Norwegian innovations - including the first presentation of the Hammerfest Strøm tidal power project given outside Norway; the first All-Energy session on carbon capture and storage; a half-day session on plans for the installation of the Beatrice Demonstrator project this summer; the first post-event technical visit... the list of innovations went on and on.

Day One

In an opening session chaired by James Smith, Chairman of Shell UK, a packed conference hall heard Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Nicol Stephen MSP announce a new £20 million package over a two-year period, including £8 million for research, testing and demonstration of emerging wave and tidal technologies, and the previously announced £3 million boost for the Scottish Communities and Households Renewables Initiative to support micro-generation. He went on to declare the Scottish Executive's intent to concentrate on ensuring that the jobs and economic benefits arising from renewables remain firmly in Scotland and the UK.

Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks MP (on a live link from Westminster rather than being at the show, due to parliamentary business) re-iterated the Government's support for renewables, saying that they were back on the agenda with a vengeance and highlighted the positive findings from the first DTI commissioned NOP survey saying that "despite all the hot air and scepticism from certain quarters, 85 per cent of the general public support the use of renewable energy, 81 per cent are in favour of wind power and just over three-fifths would be happy to live within 5km of a wind power development".

The audience was treated to a compelling scene setter from Lord Ron Oxburgh, the retired chairman of Shell, who always speaks with enormous passion about the effects of climate change, and Cllr Kate Dean, Leader of Aberdeen City Council, speaking on behalf of the Lord Provost and the City of Aberdeen, and Rita Stephen, Development Manager with the Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum gave presentations featuring Aberdeen and the Shire at the heart of the renewable energy industry.

Through four parallel sessions Day One's conference sessions looked at offshore wind; climate change - a response by the power industry; grid/networks; bioenergy; carbon capture and storage; microgeneration; renewables and communities; and featured an international seminar staged by the DTI. Every conference room and every session was packed to the gunwales. The day culminated in a Civic Reception hosted by Aberdeen City Council and guests were piped into the now-traditional Giant Networking Evening, sponsored for the first time by Shell, by AREG’s Iain Todd. An evening of fun, good food and networking then followed.

Day Two

Before the conference got down to considering onshore wind; skills - opportunities and shortages; wave and tidal power; innovations from Norway; finance and funding; hydro; hydrogen and fuel cells; and integrated projects, Day Two began with a plenary session opened by Rt Hon Brian Wilson, and chaired by 'Energy' editor and AREG's chairman, Jeremy Cresswell considering where electricity would come from in 2020.

An initial vote showed gas and renewables leading, with nuclear not too far behind and coal lagging in final position. The Electricity Networks Association's CEO, Nick Goodall set the scene and was followed by spokespersons for the gas, nuclear, coal and renewable energy industries. At the end up to 70 per cent of this energy-intelligent audience had changed their minds and instead of opting for a favoured fuel of choice, held up all four coloured voting cards making them look like brightly coloured golf umbrellas signalling 'a basket of energy'.

"There was a tremendous buzz and excitement throughout All-Energy from the moment it opened until closing time," said project director, Judith Patten. "It really was the best yet, and the positive feedback continues to come in from exhibitors completing exhibitor questionnaires, from speakers, and from people who visited the show.

"Exhibitor questionnaires without exception rate the component parts of the show (exhibition, visitors, conference and networking evening) as meeting or exceeding expectations; and when asked to rate All-Energy on a 1-5 scale (with one being excellent and 5 poor) the vast majority have opted for either a 1 or a 2 rating.

"We're already looking forward to next year's All-Energy with great enthusiasm. And, can already announce that it will incorporate an important first" added Patten.

All-Energy 07, organised by Media Generation Events in partnership with Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, will be held 23-24 May 2007 and incorporate H207 - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell 2007 Conference: a joint US-European vision of implementation’ organised by the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Scottish Renewables Forum and the New Mexico Hydrogen Business Council. There will be a large H207 hydrogen and fuel cell pavilion within the All-Energy exhibition featuring hydrogen and fuel cell (HFC) companies from the USA and all over Europe.

The 2007 floorplan and booking form will soon be available on the All-Energy website, as will be the majority of the conference presentations. These will also be available within the next couple of months on a CD. Further information can be obtained from info@all-energy.co.uk and from All-Energy at 34 Ellerker Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6AA, Tel: +44 (0)20 8241 1912, Fax: +44 (0)20 8940 6211.