The five finalists in the All-Energy Marine Renewable Energy Investment Challenge, taking place at the UK's largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference being staged at Glasgow's Scottish Event Campus (SEC - formerly SECC), have been announced. They are: 

* Fraenkel-Wright's SuperTide Gen 6MW tidal turbine 

* Ocean Energy Advisors' Innovation at the interface of technology, policy and finance 

* Oceanflow Energy's Starfloat floating wind turbine 

* SAITEC Offshore Technologies' SATH 

* Tidetec's tidal lagoon 'two-way hydropower' technology 

Thanks to an initiative master-minded by Tim Cornelius, CEO of Atlantis Resources, the winner of the Investment Challenge will benefit from up to  £10,000-worth of invaluable advice from lawyers, stockbrokers, investment bankers, accountants communications experts and marketeers. 

"We've five superb finalists who I know will rise to the occasion," says Tim Cornelius. "We're certainly in for a highly stimulating, and perhaps nail-biting, 90 minutes that I hope will help others in the audience in overcoming the much talked about 'valley of death' between innovation and commercialisation." 

Entries were invited from across the marine renewable energy industry from developers of technology, projects or services destined for use by the tidal stream, tidal barrage, tidal lagoon, wave, OTEC, salinity gradient and floating offshore wind sectors. The short list of finalists was then drawn up and includes entries from Norway, Spain and the UK. 

Tim Cornelius will chair the final from 16:00-17:30 on Wednesday 10 May when the five short-listed candidates have the opportunity to give a 10-minute elevator pitch in front of the expert panel which comprises: 

* Jock Maxwell Macdonald, Director, Peel Hunt 

* Nick Stamp, Director, Macquarie Capital 

* Cameron Smith, Partner, Ashurst 

* Ben Brewerton, Director, FTI Consulting 

* Jonnie Cox, Managing Director, Cantor Fitzgerald 

Each of the candidates will then receive five minutes of immediate feedback, and the winner will benefit from the specially tailored workshop, sponsored by Atlantis, with one aim - to help him, or her, raise funds. The announcement about the ultimate winner will be made at the Day 2 plenary session on the effect of Brexit on the renewable and low carbon energy industry. 

"We are extremely grateful to Tim Cornelius for proposing this new addition to the All-Energy conference programme," says Event Director, Jonathan Heastie of organisers Reed Exhibitions. "He is also chairing another session earlier in the day, in his role as Chairman of MeyGen, which looks at the all-important topic of 'The tidal power LCOE race - who will win, why and by when?' involving eight of the industry's leading stream, lagoon and barrage developers who will debate which projects will be able to compete with Pot 2 technologies and by when, in an unscripted debate format that will encourage audience participation and involvement. We thank him very sincerely for his commitment to All-Energy." 

Other Marine Renewable energy conference sessions over the two days include 'Marine energy supply chain opportunity' organised by Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult; Focus on wave'; 'Marine energy in focus'; and 'Returning to tidal power' all in the main conference . Additionally, the Wave and Tidal Quick Fire Seminar theatre on the exhibition show floor is home to 35 rapid fire presentations on Wednesday 10 May. 

Offshore wind also figures highly on the All-Energy agenda with six 90-minute dedicated sessions over the two days (including on on floating offshore wind); a Marine Scotland session on 10 May; and a full day of quick fire presentations on 11 May. 

All elements of All-Energy are free to attend to all with relevant business/professional interests including the major exhibition with up to 400 exhibiting companies from 16 countries; the conference and seminar programmes with 400+/- speakers; and associated events including the Giant Networking Evening and Civic Reception courtesy of the Rt Hon the Lord Provost of Glasgow. Online registration is at www.all-energy.co.uk 

All-Energy has Shepherd and Wedderburn as its Headline Sponsor and is held in association with the Renewable Energy Association (REA); Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Scottish Enterprise; Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and host city Glasgow. The Society for Underwater Technology is the show's learned society patron. A further 40 organisations including government departments, professional bodies and trade associations act as supporters of the two-day annual event. 

All-Energy | www.all-energy.co.uk