
EXCLUSIVE by Scottish Energy News
Glasgow-based Sgurr Energy – which has hitherto traded under its own name – is to be re-named in recognition of the fact that it is owned by the Wood Group oil and gas-field services conglomerate.
Despite spending tens of thousands of pounds on its own corporate branding, Sgurr Energy will now be officially known as Wood Group Clean Energy to benefit from the Aberdeen-based parent group’s global reach and market position.
The move has been on the agenda of the Wood Group board – which is chaired by renewables entrepreneur Ian Marchant – for months, with the slump in core oil and gas-field services providing both a ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factor to maximise the value of its investment in Sgurr Energy.
The move is also part of an increasing collaboration and dovetailing of energy sector skills across the main WOG (wind, oil, and gas) markets – most noticeably where offshore wind projects can benefit from the skills and experience of N. Sea oil and gas operators and supply-chain providers.
See for example:
Premier Oil flags up collaboration with wind-ustry in biggest new N. Sea gas field for 20 years
In Norway, this trend is even more advance with the country’s two main energy associations (for renewables and for oil and gas) combining to form a unified Norway Energy Partnership to promote all its energy skills in export markets.
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Meanwhile, the newly-named Wood Group Clean Energy has introduced drones (aka Arial-ROVs) to its existing wind turbine inspection service.
Operations and maintenance inspections on wind turbine generators can be carried out up to four times faster than traditional rope-access methods. The safety risk to inspection workers is also significantly reduced, if not eradicated thanks to the drone’s ability to capture multi-angle, high-definition photos of hard-to-reach spaces.
- Dumfries-based Natural Power – which competes with Wood Group Clean Energy – has appointed Christine Sutter as its Head of Environment in North America. A bat ecologist with more than 25 years of experience, she will oversee the growth of a team providing renewable energy consultancy services for onshore and offshore wind facilities, solar facilities, and transmission lines.