(News.Scotsman.com, Oct 30, 2006) SCOTTISH companies stand to make millions of pounds, while helping combat to climate change, by moving into China's growing renewable-energy market, the Deputy First Minister claimed yesterday.

Nicol Stephen has travelled to Beijing to address an international business conference, in which he will claim that Scotland can offer "cutting-edge" technology for China's growing renewable-energy sector.

China is the world's second-largest energy consumer and the third-largest energy producer. One coal-fired power station opens in China every month, although the government has said that traditional energy sources will eventually become unsustainable and that it wants to move its investments into renewable energy.

Mr Stephen said he will highlight the successes of Scottish companies in the field.

Scotland has produced the first commercial wave-energy device, Pelamis, the world's first marine-energy centre on Orkney, and the world's first deep-water offshore wind-farm demonstration off the north-east coast.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Stephen said: "It is impossible to underestimate the scale of opportunity offered by the Chinese market in renewable-energy technology.

"I want China to hear and see what Scottish innovation has to offer," he added.

A spokesman for Greenpeace welcomed the move as an example of policy that is both good for business and the environment.

He said: "There are billions of pounds to be made from combating climate change. Any sensible government is getting in there now.

"But apart from that, greenhouse gases don't respect borders. So offering China opportunities to pursue renewable energy is absolutely crucial."
source:News.Scotsman.com