The UK is emerging as the world leader in the development of wind energy, blasting multi-million pound contract opportunities onto the horizon. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is already home to the world's first deepwater offshore wind demonstrator project and the regional development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is working intensively to bring developers and suppliers together to progress the region's lead.

With 32GW of additional offshore wind energy generation sanctioned for the UK through The Crown Estate's third leasing round in January, there is the potential for billions to be invested in the sector over the next decade. The opportunity this promises for Scotland will be underlined at a supply chain event organised by HIE and The Crown Estate in Inverness on February 2, 2010.

Alex Paterson, HIE's director of regional competitiveness explained: "We are working to ensure that all the strands needed to deliver this emerging industry are co-ordinated and progressed as fast as possible. The region has superb on and offshore wind resources and, thanks in part to the legacy of the oil and gas industry in this part of the world, we also have the infrastructure, engineering capacity and skilled workforce needed to seize these new opportunities."

Many of the yard operators in the Highlands and Islands are already experienced renewables manufacturers including Welcon in Argyll; BiFab at Arnish  on Lewis and Isleburn in Easter Ross, and they join a multitude of other skilled businesses ready to bid for work.

Ian Couper chief executive of the North of Scotland Industries Group said: "Developers across the globe are now realising that this region has the capacity and expertise to deliver solutions for next generation energy provision. HIE is working with industry operators - making them aware of opportunities and industry timescales and introducing them to developers - and this is bearing fruit. There is a growing awareness that this is the place to be for renewable energy opportunities."

Among those invited to the February 2 event will be the successful Round 3 developers and some Tier 1 contractors together with representatives from organisations such as The Department of Energy and Climate Change and the industry trade body Scottish Renewables.

HIE sits on the Forum for Renewable Energy Development for Scotland’s Offshore Wind Industry Group. It works closely with the Scottish and UK Governments, local authorities and The Crown Estate enabling the agency to act as an energy information hub in the region.

Audrey MacIver, joint head of HIE's energy team explained: "We've run a number of events to encourage suppliers to bid for contracts and we'll be running many more in future. The potential of the Pentland Firth for wave and tidal energy development is exciting a lot of interest but this spectacular announcement for UK offshore wind has really stimulated the industry. We are looking forward to a very upbeat and exciting event next month."

Rob Hastings, The Crown Estate’s Director of the Marine Estate, said: “The industry is proposing that 25% of the UK's electricity demand will be met from offshore wind by 2020 and this represents a massive long term investment opportunity for the Highlands and Islands.

“It has the potential to generate thousands of jobs in the UK, our event in Inverness is the ideal opportunity for the business community in the Highlands and Islands to find out how they can benefit from the growth in the offshore wind sector.”

To register for the event on the February 2, 2010 visit www.offshorewindevent.com/ or for further information contact Elain Cameron in HIE's energy team: elain.cameron@hient.co.uk or call 01463 244350.