Rate rises will cost jobs, says North Sea firm
Bosses at a struggling small engineering firm have warned a failure to halt “daylight robbery” business rate rises will cost people their jobs.
Aberdeenshire
Energy Voice’s top stories: Chevron marks first gas from Alder
Energy Voice has gone through the archives to take a look back at the top stories from the year gone by.
HB Rentals nets multiple contracts worth more than £1m
HB Rentals has net contracts worth more than £1million for the manufacture of workshops, local equipment rooms and pressurised offshore service modules for multiple clients.
Councillor criticised after leaving North Sea jobs conference over accommodation
A north-east councillor has faced criticism after abandoning a North Sea jobs conference in disgust at his accommodation.
Ace Winches appoints new engineering manager
Deck machinery manufacturer Ace Winches has appointed Chris Waller as its new engineering manager.
Renew News: Braemar Hydro Scheme getting ready for action
A community hydro scheme could be up and running this summer after 200 investors injected £800,000 worth of cash into the project.
SeaEnergy moves into acquisition talks
SeaEnergy said its board has entered into discussions with a number of parties for acquisition of its R2S Visual Asset Management business as well as other group assets.
Statoil’s Hywind project taking shape
The first part of Norwegian operator Statoil's substructure for its Hywind project has begun to take shape.
Deal for Granite City may rake in £1.2billion
The Aberdeen City Region Deal could ultimately be worth £1.2billion to the north-east. The Scottish and UK Governments as well as Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils signed off on the historic £250million package of support for the region yesterday.
Statoil’s Hywind project could create “hundreds” of jobs
The firm behind ambitious plans to create a floating windfarm off the north-east coast have promised it will deliver a jobs bonanza. Energy giant Statoil said last night its Hywind scheme would generate hundreds of posts during the construction, 15 miles from shore.
Video: Statoil sets its sight on global wind market in Japan and US
Statoil's flagship Hywind project could be replicated in regions such as the US and Japan, according to the company's head of asset management.
Scottish Government approves Statoil’s Hywind project
Plans to build the world’s largest offshore windfarm off the north-east coast have been approved. Norwegian energy giant Statoil will erect five 600ft turbines tethered to the bed of the North Sea, 15 miles from Peterhead. The Scottish Government has today granted the firm a marine licence, allowing construction work on the huge structures to begin.
Paradigm Flow Services gains certification for Dry-Flo
Paradigm Flow Services has gained certification for a new addition to its line of products. The company said it had received DNV GL certification for its Dry-Flo deluge system testing technology. The system has been qualified in accordance with DNV-DSS-401 technology qualification management.
IMES Marine Safety Systems invest £250,000 in upgrading quayside facility
IMES Marine Safety Systems (IMES MMS) has invested £250,000 in upgrading its quayside facility at Montrose Port. The company, has been leasing the site from the Montrose Port Authority (MPA), has opened a new workshop and warehousing facility in a bid to increase its customer coverage. The 20,000 square foot quayside facility will allow IMES MMS to provide support vessels for lifesaving equipment inspections combined with lifting inspection and testing, marine inspectionsm and winch spooling operations.
Trump takes offshore windfarm battle to Supreme Court
United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is staging the latest round of a legal fight against an offshore wind farm project near a Scottish golf resort he owns. Scottish Government ministers approved proposals for an 11-turbine scheme off the Aberdeenshire coast in 2013. Billionaire businessman Mr Trump, president of The Trump Organisation, is against the plan and says the wind farm will spoil the view from his luxury golf links at the Menie Estate.
Fabritech spin-off up and running in Aberdeenshire
Two north-east businessmen have launched a new engineering firm targeting the subsea, drilling and renewable-energy sectors. Stuart Mackie and Innes Smith, managing director and engineering manager respectively at Aberdeenshire manufacturing and fabrication company Fabritech UK, have invested more than £500,000 in machinery, tooling and software for their new venture. They have called it Engineering Solutions and Rental (ESR) and initially based it at Fabritech’s headquarters at Insch Business Park.
Energetica eyes up overseas investment
Energetica faces a challenge to attract new overseas investment into north east Scotland whilst avoiding robbing 'Peter to pay Paul'.
NorthConnect power project gets council backing
The £2billion NorthConnect project to connect Aberdeenshire to the Scandinavian electricity network has been approved by Aberdeenshire Council.
Windfarm owners lodge plans for more turbines
Plans to expand one of Aberdeenshire’s biggest windfarms have been lodged. The owners of Glens of Foudland, near Huntly, first unveiled plans to add another nine turbines to their existing 20-mast development last year. After a public consultation revised plans for seven 328ft turbines have now been submitted to Aberdeenshire Council.
Opinion: We must be careful not to overreact
Once the details of the summit are announced, Aberdeenshire Council will make sure it is fully involved. The oil and gas industry is incredibly important, not only to the North East economy, but to the economy of Scotland and the rest of the UK. We have established good working relationships with the private sector over many years and understand the challenges facing the energy industry today. The area benefits when oil prices are high, but this also brings challenges impacting on house prices and affecting the local recruitment market. It’s important that we consider the impact of falling oil prices, the likely effect on the economy and steps we can collectively take to support the industry.