ENERGY
WIND POWER
WORDS : ANDY PASSANT
Opportunity – Steel River Consultants founder and MD Graham Tyerman
Small company has big ambitions after winning contract for massive wind farm
Winds of change are blowing and Teesside is leading the UK ’ s efforts to create a cleaner , greener world .
Take Steel River Consultants ( SRC ) for example , health and safety consultancy experts with ambitious plans for growth in the world of renewable energy .
Last year , the Stockton-based consultancy firm won a major contract on one of the world ’ s largest offshore wind farms .
It was a huge win for the small but growing business , which provides health and safety support and project management services and specialises in onshore / offshore renewable energy .
SRC has built up an enviable reputation in both the renewable and industrial sectors and its expertise secured a health and safety contract for the flagship Sofia Offshore Wind Farm being constructed by global energy leader RWE Renewables .
Sofia is a 1.4 gigawatt offshore wind farm sited on Dogger Bank , 195km from the nearest point on the North-East coast . It will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world , as well as one of the farthest from shore , and technically a major engineering feat .
SRC founder and managing director Graham Tyerman said : “ If you look at the projects now being built on Dogger Bank , it is a huge undertaking . Sofia is only one quarter of the current construction activity .”
It ’ s good news for Teesside as the export cables come ashore between Redcar and Marske . A new onshore converter station is being built on the site adjacent to Wilton International , which will then connect to the National Grid .
“ If you look at the North-East in general , there is a lot of good , highquality work coming into the region . The fact that these cables are coming into Teesside just adds to that .”
Graham said it was a real opportunity to create skilled jobs in the area , hopefully meaning fewer Teessiders will have to travel further afield to find work .
“ On projects around the country you always get a Teesside workforce ,” Graham said . “ Teessiders have had to travel . I think as a region we have missed out in the past and been overlooked . Now the work is here .”
He said the Sofia project should be keeping them busy through to 2026 , adding : “ As a business it gives us stability and the ability to invest and grow .
“ We need to expand and take on more people . We are not just working on the one renewable project .
“ We are now becoming involved in floating wind farms . That is a big growth area within the renewable industry . It ’ s in the early development stages . “
It also means SRC ’ s workers will need to upskill to cope with the expected rise in offshore / onshore wind work .
Graham says they are passionate about Teesside , where SRC has its headquarters and employs local people wherever possible .
The company ’ s commitment to this area is also evident in its other projects , including the Regent Cinema in Redcar , the Northern School of Arts in Middlesbrough and TeesAMP .
But it also has its growing Scottish office . Graham said : “ Aspirations for renewable energy in Scotland are really big . By having an office there , we are hoping to have a slice of that .”
Attitudes towards wind power have certainly changed over the years . Graham said : “ Back when I first started there was a lot of ‘ not in my back yard ’ nimbyism . We are not seeing that as much now . I think people are recognising the need to move away from fossil fuels .”
Meanwhile the outlook for 2022 and onwards is looking “ very positive ”. Graham said : “ We need to bring more staff into the business . We will outgrow the facilities we are in and will need bigger or more premises .
“ We ’ ve still got the knowledge and skills here . I think that ’ s why a lot of companies look at the region because of the heritage we have got . Let ’ s turn the North-East around .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 97