Scottish renewable-energy consultant SgurrEnergy is gearing up for an expansion drive in the Highlands after setting up a Caithness base.
The move is expected to create a small number of jobs in the area over the next 18 months.
The Glasgow-based firm now has an office at Scrabster to add to operations elsewhere in the UK and overseas in Ireland, France, the US, Canada, China and India.
Its most northerly UK site is headed up by energy engineer Richard Hunt and will focus primarily on wind, biomass, wave and tidal-energy systems.
Mr Hunt said: “SgurrEnergy expects to see an increasing demand for our expertise to service the rapidly expanding renewable sector in the Highlands and islands in the coming months.
“It, therefore, made perfect sense to expand and create a permanent base in the north of Scotland.
There are already plans to expand the Scrabster operation and the firm is on the lookout for mechanical and electrical engineers, preferably with experience in the energy sector.
SgurrEnergy was founded seven years ago by directors Steve McDonald and Ian Irvine, with the aim of building the world’s largest renewable-energy consultancy.
The company now employs more than 100 engineers and consultants worldwide.
It provides project services from feasibility studies and site search through to project design, implementation and operations or maintenance advice.
Past projects include work on windfarms across the globe, including Europe’s largest onshore site at Eaglesham Moor, near Glasgow, and a pioneering 50-megawatt development in Inner Mongolia.
SgurrEnergy was recently appointed to advise on the feasibility of building one of the largest offshore windfarms in China.
Mr Hunt said the firm’s decision to open an office at Scrabster was based on the location being close to several wind, wave and tidal developments in addition to excellent transport links to Orkney, Inverness and farther afield.
He added: “We have already capitalised on our location by winning work in the marine and wind sectors, most notably survey work, resource measurement and site selection for large and established utilities and wave and tidal generators.”
