SgurrEnergy Appointed As Operational Manager For Bankend Rig Wind Farm

Online, February 28, 2013 (Newswire.com) - International renewable energy consultancy, SgurrEnergy, part of Wood Group, has been appointed by Wilson Renewables as the operational manager of the nearing-completion Bankend Rig wind farm.

Bankend Rig comprises 11 Siemens 1.3MW wind turbines and is located near Dungavel in South Lanarkshire. SgurrEnergy will provide the operational management for the site and will oversee all maintenance activities during the first three years of the project's operational phase.

In addition to ensuring safe working practices are operated, maintenance intervals are optimised and security is not compromised, SgurrEnergy will work with Wilson Renewables to maximise the production of the site using its extensive sector knowledge and software applications. SgurrEnergy will also control all other stakeholder management, including liaison with land owners and South Lanarkshire council.

The successful partnership between SgurrEnergy and Wilson Renewables has seen the companies work together from the initial planning approval of the wind farm in early 2012, through construction and to the anticipated plant take over in April 2013.

SgurrEnergy has already provided wind regime and energy yield analysis, concept design evaluation, access evaluation, ground investigation and grid connection support and design for Wilson Renewables on the Bankend Rig project.

The project win strengthens SgurrEnergy's position as a provider of operational management services across a range of renewable energy projects.

Steve McDonald, SgurrEnergy's implementation director, commented, "We're delighted to be able to continue our close relationship with Wilson Renewables and are looking forward to delivering a safe and highly productive site for them. A key part of the agreement is to use our operational knowledge and leading edge software products to improve the operational efficiency of the site, maximising production levels and looking wherever possible to lower operational costs.

Wilson Renewables director, James Lowther, commented, "Building wind farms is a challenging business and it has been essential to draw on SgurrEnergy's experience during the construction of Bankend. Having made such a significant commitment to Bankend it is now critical for Wilson Renewables to maximise the output and returns of the wind farm which is something we believe we will be much better placed to achieve in partnership with SgurrEnergy."