While industry in New Zealand begins to recover from the global recession, some companies have been looking for opportunities offshore.

HERA Industry Development Manager Nick Inskip led a trade delegation to the UK with an itinerary built around the All Energy Conference and Tradeshow held in Aberdeen, Scotland between 19th and 20th May.

Commencing in Newcastle, the delegation visited companies and research facilities who are leading in the development of renewable energy technologies. Delegates included David Moore of Grayson Engineering in Auckland, Anthony Bellve of Energy Pacifica, also in Auckland, Mike Lehan of Mount Maunganui company Page and McCrae and Kevin McGrath of Whangarei-based Tangaroa Energy.

All Energy provided an excellent opportunity for meeting companies and to do business. Paul Tuckley, Auckland-based Trade Development Manager for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), provided excellent support for the delegation and worked hard to organize visits to appropriate companies. Paul also accompanied the delegation for the first four days of the two week tour and UKTI provided business centre facilities at All Energy, with areas for delegates to hold meetings. These facilities were well used by all delegates who were thankful to UKTI for their support.

The delegation traveled extensively from the North East of England where they visited SMD, a manufacturer of undersea robotic vehicles and developer of the ‘ Tidel’ tidal current device and NAREC, the UK’s renewable energy test centre. Then on to Scotland, where they were able to see a contra rotating marine energy turbine developed by Strathclyde University, followed by a visit to the wave testing facility at Edinburgh University which delegates said, “was very impressive”.

Next on the programme was Aberdeen, where a welcome reception for international delegates was hosted at the maritime museum. This presented delegates with the opportunity to network with others from all over the world. The Tradeshow, which was part of the All Energy Conference, included 455 exhibitors and was particularly useful for delegates.

Following All Energy, the delegation visited Pelamis, the company which has a very well advanced wave energy device which delegates got to look aboard. Pelamis is 180m long, 1250 tons and floats on the sea surface, with the movement of hinged segments powering hydraulic rams which driving hydraulic motors and produce electricity.

A side trip was made to visit the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) in Orkney to see the Oyster wave device being tested. The delegation then headed to the South West of England where they visited Freepower, a company who is using the Organic Rankine Cycle to produce electricity from waste heat, and the A&P Group who have developed a new process for making floating docks.

The delegation then travelled to Wales, where they were hosted by Fuling Li of Investment Wales. Delegates had dinner with Professor Roger Faulkner, who is a leading expert on marine energy and the driving force behind the proposed building of the Severn Inlet Barrage that will produce 8 gigawatts of power, which is enough to provide for all of the electricity needs of Wales.

Delegates also met with GEM, the developers of an innovative gasification process for waste, and with Equipment Supply Services who also operate in the waste processing area. The next visits were to a Turbine test centre where they were developing fuel nozzles for use with biofuels in jet engines; the hydraulic model of the Severn Inlet at Cardiff University along with their marine current testing facilities, which was followed by a meeting with the current device developer, Tidal Energy.

The delegation then travelled to rugby in the heart of the English Midlands, where they visited Converteam, a leading manufacturer of electric generators and motors who have just produced a new high temperature superconducting generator which generates more electricity for a given energy resource. Converteam supplies generators to many wind turbine and hydroelectric companies as well as large electric motors to power ships including for the US Navy. Some of the units that the delegation saw were over six meters in diameter, weighing over forty tons.

The consensus from delegates was that the trip was very valuable. They each said that they achieved what they were hoping to, and in many cases, more. When asked what he considered to be the highlight of the trip, delegate Kevin McGrath said that “each day provided a new highlight.”

HERA Industry Development Manager Nick Inskip said, “New Zealand is a small market with some very capable companies who deserve the opportunity to grow their businesses into bigger markets. Helping these companies’ access opportunities outside New Zealand is critical to their future development, which is why trade delegations are so important.”

He went on to say that, “HERA is committed to helping New Zealand heavy engineering companies develop, and it is great to see that all of the companies who sent delegates have benefitted from the experience. The only complaint I have heard is that each delegate has so much to follow-up on as a result of the trip.”