Alex Salmond MSP will deliver the keynote address at All-Energy 2012, the UK's biggest renewable energy exhibition and conference, which takes place on 23 and 24 May at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).
Mr Salmond will join a number of other key speakers including Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy, DECC; the Lord Provost of the City of Aberdeen; Keith Anderson, chief corporate officer of ScottishPower and chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables; David Gartside, board member of the Health and Safety Executive; David Blunt, director Public Policy UK and EU Institutions, Gamesa Wind UK; Dr Graham Cooley, ceo, ITM Power; in a session chaired by Jeremy Cresswell, chairman of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and editor of the Press & Journal's 'Energy'.

The show will feature around 580 exhibiting companies reflecting every source of renewable energy from up to 20 countries, according to event manager, Jamie Thompson of Reed Exhibitions.

There are three new zones within the show this year: Offshore Maintenance, Smart Energy and the Low Carbon Vehicle. Both the Offshore Maintenance and Smart Energy zones feature dedicated seminar areas.

Another new feature of the show is 11 sector-specific trails designed to help visitors find their way around.

For the first time, All-Energy has been chosen as the venue for one of The Crown Estate's UK offshore wind supply chain seminars with a full afternoon session taking place on 24 May, organised by them with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The conference programme includes world-class speakers taking part in virtually every session and stream which reflects every renewable energy source and the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

Other highlights of the event will include the Giant Networking Evening and the opportunity for one-to-one meetings with specialists and delegates from a number of different countries worldwide through UKTI.

All-Energy is held in association with RenewableUK, Scottish Renewables, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). The Society for Underwater Technology is the event's learned society patron and it is supported by almost 30 government departments, development agencies, trade associations and professional bodies. This year's show sponsors include The Crown Estate, Ernst & Young, Forestry Commission Scotland, renewablescareers.com, RES and Stork Technical Services.

All elements of the event are free to attend for anyone with a business/professional interest in renewable and sustainable energy. To find out more about the event and for free online registration visit www.all-energy.co.uk