Global Energy Group boss 'very, very optimistic about the future' – and aware of importance of freeport status push

As the chief executive of Global Energy Group (GEG), Tim Cornelius believes he is in a very fortunate position.

Cornelius, who took up his new post in January after 15 years as chief executive of SIMEC Atlantis Energy, was recruited by Global chairman Roy MacGregor to help lead the company’s transition from its oil and gas origins into a major force in the rapidly growing Scottish renewables sector and establish the former oil fabrication yard at Nigg as the UK’s leading renewables hub.

“It’s a real honour to be handed one of the best assets in the UK in Nigg, which is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after locations for the largest renewables projects,” he said.

Like GEG itself, the Australian-born's career began with oil and gas, first as a commercial diver and then as a ROV pilot.

Similarly, many of GEG’s long-standing customers are going through a similar transition themselves as they move from a fossil fuel-based business model to one that embraces green energy.

It is this diverse energy background that has been a key factor in Scotland’s world-leading role in the renewables revolution, Tim believes.

“Without too much largesse and embellishment, Scotland leads the world,” he stated.

“People are looking to use 30 to 40 years of oil and gas knowledge and experience and take that into renewables, and specifically wind. There is a reason why every big company is using Scottish companies and ports to marshal their multi-billion pound projects. This is why, in my career, I have spent so much time here. I genuinely believe Scotland leads the world with respect to everything that is marine renewable related and I class offshore wind in that space,”

It is an exciting time, he added, not just for Nigg and GEG, but for the Highlands as a whole, especially as the ScotWind leasing round has yet to begin.

“Once that has been completed and you are in the full swing of construction for the floating markets in Scotland, you have 20 to 30 years of work there,” he said.

Skills and training will be the biggest challenge, he acknowledges. GEG will continue to invest in its training academy, but if plans go ahead for Global’s own steel-rolling hall, which would be capable of creating up to 100 wind turbine towers each year, GEG aims to re-train up to 300 former oil and gas workers with the skills required for Scotland’s latest energy boom.

“We have been very active in this space because we already know there is going to be a skill shortage,” he said.

“It’s a real honour to be handed one of the best assets in the UK in Nigg, which is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after locations for the largest renewables projects."

If the tower-rolling facility is approved, it will mark the completion of a journey that began with a simple idea and sketch and will culminate in the construction of a £100 million facility.

This is just the type of bold idea Cornelius wanted to encourage with the launch of the Global Incubator, proving GEG’s staff with a platform to share and develop ideas.

He said that on joining the company, it quickly became apparent that many of GEG’s staff shared Roy MacGregor’s entrepreneurial spirit, but while they had great ideas, they did not know how to bring that idea to market.

However, he realised that GEG already has the three essentials to bring those ideas to fruition: available capital for development, the ability to test new products, and a loyal customer base that was itself looking for new innovations.

“It is early days, but the quality of what we are seeing is superb and if we can prove it internally, wonderful. If we can actually export it, even better,” he said.

While GEG’s main focus is on offshore wind, it has been involved in tidal energy projects, such as the Meygen tidal array being developed by Tim’s former employer, SIMEC Atlantis.

However, while he acknowledges wonderful things are happing across the sector in Scotland, he believes political will is required to help it achieve its full potential.

“In terms of the proportion of our business, tidal is not anywhere near as large as offshore wind. Tidal power is ready to go, but it does need that legislative support. We’re hearing positive things, but we need to see those changes enacted in legislation,” he said.

Speaking soon after the Scottish Parliamentary elections raised the prospect of another independence referendum, he said it was certainly too early to tell if that would have an impact on Global’s future, but one thing that is important to that future is ensuring that the Port of Cromarty Firth achieves green port status, the Scottish Government’s own version of freeports.

“That is really important because otherwise, the freeport awards that have already been given in England will provide an unfair advantage to those ports, especially those who are already exporting to Europe,” he said.

Yet, whatever their difference over the future place of Scotland with the United Kingdom or otherwise, both the London and Edinburgh governments have committed to supporting renewables in the fight against climate change, which is good news for Global Energy Group and the rest of the renewable energy sector.

"In a funny way we are kind of hedged, without taking a political position, because renewables is widely loved, regardless of your view on Brexit and, more importantly, Scottish independence," he reflected.

“We are very, very optimistic about the future and hugely thankful that we own and operate a port that is in a strategic location for the UK’s offshore wind aspirations. It’s a combination of being very fortunate and at the same time making the most of the advantages that we have.”

Source: ross-shirejournal.co.uk

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