Global Port Services, of Aberdeen, has launched a new division supplying crane and installation services to the renewable energy sector.
The launch of Global Wind Projects (GWP) is expected to create 70 Scottish jobs, with three major wind turbine installation contracts already secured.
GWP will provide full-scope crane and installation (C&I) services to the renewables sector, and aims to become one of the UK and Ireland’s leading names for onshore and offhore turbine installation.
Global Port Services – part of the north-east based energy services firm Global Energy Group (GEG), the Inverness-based company controlled by Highland businessman
Roy MacGregor – said it had created the specialist unit in response to rapid growth in the renewables sector.
Global already provides a range of energy, port agency and marine logistics services from bases at Aberdeen, Invergordon, Port of Nigg, Glasgow and Northern Ireland, and operates a growing fleet of some of the most advanced heavy cranes in the industry, with lifting capacity ranging from 50 to 1,000 tonnes.
The new business will work in conjunction with its parent company to provide a seamless crane and installation package, supported by experienced and skilled teams and access to its modern crane fleet.
It has already invested in a new state-of-the-art Liebherr LG 1750 – which combines the flexibility of a 750-tonne crawler crane with the mobility of a high-speed mobile crane – for dedicated use on wind projects.
© Supplied by Global Wind ProjectsGlobal Wind Projects has already secured three major contracts this year, prompting the creation of 35 jobs, with the Scotland-based team set to double again in size by Q3 2022.
This month the company was engaged by Nordex at the 15-turbine Harting Rig wind farm development in South Lanarkshire. At 135 metres, the project consists of some of the highest hub height turbines ever to be installed in the UK.
In June, it will deploy again to South Lanarkshire at Nordex’s 12-turbine Cumberhead project, while a further contract for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) at the eight-turbine Longhill wind turbine project in West Lothian commences October 2022.
The latter will be the first project in the UK where SGRE’s new 5X technology will be installed.
Newly appointed general manager, Ryan Burke, said the company was ready to take advantage of the “unprecedented growth” seen in onshore and offshore wind around the UK and Ireland.
“With three major onshore contracts already secured, Global Wind Projects recruited 35 skilled turbine technicians this month alone and expect to double the size of the team with three months, with further growth expected beyond that, too,” he said.
Meanwhile, GEG’s Port of Nigg site is also set to become home to the UK’s largest offshore wind tower manufacturing operation, following a deal with Haizea Wind Group to build a new £110 million state-of-the-art facility.
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