Wind Today

SgurrEnergy to Invest $1.5 Billion in Canadian Green Energy Market

Aug. 22 — Renewable energy consultancy SgurrEnergy has set its sights on capturing a slice of the lucrative North American green energy market after setting up an office in Vancouver.

SgurrEnergy's Vancouver base will be its fourth overseas office.

The Glasgow-based business opened up in China (Beijing) in 2006 and India (Pune) a year later to serve the rapidly growing Asian renewable energy market.

Earlier this year the company set up in Ireland.

Wind power expert Eric Walker, who previously headed up SgurrEnergy's Beijing office, has returned to his native Canada to spearhead the company's drive to capitalise on the country's green energy push.

Walker said: "Canada is on the verge of a wind energy boom. If plans currently in place are realised then up to five per cent of the country's power could come from wind by 2016, creating an extra 10,000 jobs.

"It is expected that $1.5 billion (£750 million) will be invested in building new wind farms in Canada this year. And while the industry has been led by three provinces so far − Ontario, Quebec and Alberta − others such as British Columbia have excellent un-tapped resources that are now being brought to commercial development.

"The potential exploitable wind resource in British Columbia has been estimated at 5,000 MW − enough to power over one million homes.

"It therefore makes perfect sense for SgurrEnergy to set up in the province's largest city, Vancouver, in order to tap into this large pipeline of project work that will require an extensive knowledge of wind farm development."

SgurrEnergy is already involved in a number of projects on the west coast of North America, from Oregon to British Columbia, ranging from large commercial developments to community initiatives.

The consultancy is currently undertaking a recruitment drive in Canada and aims to employ up to 12 people, ranging from engineers with experience in the wind industry to project managers with a proven track record, for the Vancouver office over the next 24 months.

The company is owned by co-founders Steve McDonald and Ian Irvine with the aim of building the world’s largest renewable energy consultancy.

The company now employs 80 people worldwide; 55 at its Scotland HQ in Glasgow.

The consultancy has worked on wind farm projects across the globe including Europe's largest wind farm on Eaglesham Moor near Glasgow, Scotland and a pioneering 50 MW project in Inner Mongolia, China.

SgurrEnergy was recently commissioned to carry out a comprehensive wind monitoring assessment for BT to develop a portfolio that will generate up to 25 percent of its current UK electricity requirements by 2016.

The scheme will be worth around £250 million.

The company has also advised lenders on a number of offshore wind farm projects including Ormonde and Thanet in the UK, Thornton Bank in Belgium, and Q7 in the Netherlands.

Recent due diligence assignments also include advising Scottish and Southern Energy on their £1.1bn acquisition of Irish wind farm developer and operator Airtricity.

The consultancy also has significant expertise in the wave and tidal sector.

t provided the technical due diligence on the Pelamis wave energy device and undertook a global review of 70 marine energy devices for client ScottishPower.

SgurrEnergy has developed extensive UK and international experience in wind, bio-energy, hydro, marine, solar and hybrid power.

Key clients include Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy, BT, Standard Chartered, Infinis, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays.