JUNE/JULY 2013 | £5.25 - Wind Energy Network

SPOTLIGHT ON WEST OF SCOTLANDSPOTLIGHT ON WEST OF SCOTLANDGSS Marine ServicesGSS Marine Services are a company based in Rhu Marinanear Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute. The company whichuntil very recently was known as GSS Plant now workacross most continents and also have an office in Holland.Services and experienceThey provide expert and well equipped support for marineconstruction, engineering, repair and maintenance and are trustedcontractors to the Royal Navy and civil maritime construction industry.Wind, wave and tidalIncreasingly GSS have expanded into the offshore wind,wave and tidal energy fields. Their fleet of 18 state-of-the-artworkboats cope with all aspects of the offshore renewablessector from installation, cable laying and maintenance, to fullyqualified dive support and crew transfer.Wind energySome of the marine wind farm projects around the UK that GSShave been involved with include Burbo Bank, Robin Rigg andArklow as well as further afield for the Rodsand 2 off Denmarkwhere they offered services including dive support, groundinvestigations, vibrocoring, and anchor handling.Wave & tidalDuring works in Orkneythe Fiona F Eurocarrier,accompanied by ateam of 5 divers carriedout installation of 10composite gravityanchors weighing upto and over 100 tonnesfor the EuropeanMarine Energy Centre’soffshore test facilitiesfor wave and tidalpower technologies.Scottish Water installEvance small wind turbinesto power water treatmentworksTen Evance turbines to reduce cost ofoperating water works on Isle of LewisEvance is pleased to be working inpartnership with Scottish Water to helpharness wind power and so reduce theenergy costs of running a vital service forthe Scottish community.First installation completeThe first installation of R9000 small windturbines has been completed at ScottishWater’s waste water treatment works nearStornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The tenturbines will be able to generate around500kWh of electricity each day to helppower the works, so reducing the energycosts of running the works today and inthe future.On-site for use on-siteEddie Johnstone, Project Manager withScottish Water’s Energy Team stated“We’re delighted that this wind project atStornoway has come to fruition. ScottishWater needs a significant amount ofenergy to provide services to the peopleof Scotland. By installing the Evance smallwind turbines energy can be generatedon-site for use on-site. This will reducethe need for purchasing electricity froma grid supplier, resulting in lower energycosts – all benefits for our customers.We will continue to pursue opportunitiesto deliver best value by developingrenewables and maximising use ofScottish Water’s assets.”Vital service at reduced cost“It is exciting to see our turbines beingused to help Scottish Water reducethe cost of supplying a vital water &waste water service to the Scottishcommunity,” comments Tim Sammon,Director of Evance Wind Turbines.“It is great working with the team atScottish Water as they are open toopportunities to make small wind workfor them on sites where wind is a goodnatural resource – a resource there forharnessing! This is all for the benefit oftheir paying customers, and will alsosupport local businesses which areproviding installation services, and willundertake ongoing servicing of theturbines.”Scottish WaterScottish Water is the fourth largest water& waste water service provider in the UK,providing 5 million customers, with 1.3billion litres of clean water every day andalso takes away 839 million litres of wastewater a day. With over 2,100 water andwaste water treatments works, and othersites, Scottish Water is a large user ofenergy. Scottish Water continues to workon projects to generate green energyto reduce operation costs, reduce thecost to customers and also help to meetScotland’s renewable energy target.Wider investment programmeThe turbines are part of the widerinvestment programme by ScottishWater Horizons the utility’s commercialsubsidiary, in renewable generationschemes across Scotland.Evance Wind Turbines Ltdwww.evancewind.comFlexible approachThe flexible approach that GSS Marine Services has, coupledwith their vast experience gained in the last 24 years andwillingness to acquire specific plant as required by clients, putsthem in the forefront of marine contractors in the UK today.GSS Marine Serviceswww.gssplant.co.uk66 www.windenergynetwork.co.ukwww.windenergynetwork.co.uk 67