ENVIRO-CLEAN I PROFILE

drain cleaning and unblocking, drainage repairs and pipe lining. Enviroclean also provides CCTV surveys for pipes with diameters from 50mm up to 2.5 metres.

Sustainable projects

Alongside this impressive portfolio of industrial services, Enviroclean also offers a selection of cleaning services to domestic customers. The company has been desludging septic tanks since its very first day of business in 1997. Additional services include

To choose a single project to highlight from Enviroclean’s substantial workload is not easy, but Mr Donaghy selected a personal favourite: “We have been carrying out cleaning works at Grangemouth, working on SBR tanks which has amounted to a project worth over £1 million. This extensive contract includes PLANT DISAB Q20, D-Max screening / treatment plant, Muller water jetting recyclers, Whale and RTN

6000-gallon tankers and ERT teams, all working together.”

Enviroclean enjoys ‘continual and consistent’ growth in its position as the biggest industrial drain cleaning company in Scotland and one of the largest employers in the area. This growth trajectory continues with a new four-year contract for all sludge tankering movements in Scotland. This project alone led to Enviroclean investing over £5 million on new trucks and trailers with more investment for 2023 /2024 already underway.

The latest investment is part of Enviroclean’s rolling project to operate sustainably by rejuvenating its fleet of vehicles. All of the company’s new trucks have Euro 6 engines and Enviroclean is also exploring the options for upgrading the vans in the fleet, notably the potential to switch to electric vehicles.

Alongside these fleet upgrades, Enviroclean also has a broader programme to increase sustainability across the business. For example, investment in the in-house screening plants has improved the efficiency of treatments of all grit and rags from sewage treatment works with a lower carbon / CO2 footprint on vehicle movement across the country.

Cornerstones of service

It is this innovative plant and equipment that helps set Enviroclean apart from the competition. By investing in the best machines avail able, the company delivers a first-class service to clients. This investment programme runs alongside extensive Health and safety training for all employees to ensure the best possible outcome for the client.

To deliver services to this required standard, Enviroclean draws from suppliers across the UK and Europe. Enviroclean takes particular care to pay small business suppliers promptly, in appreciation of the importance of cash-flow to these smaller operations. In this way, the company builds up the strong relationships with suppliers that are so necessary for a successful business.

Health, Safety, the Environment and Quality are the four cornerstones of Enviroclean’s business. These principles provide the solid foundation for the company’s business philosophy and keep it as the first choice for customers.

As part of its robust fleet renewable programme, Enviroclean felt the impact of recent disruptions to the global supply chain. “The issue we have is with the supply of new trucks,” Mr Donaghy explained.

“There has been a backlog on all new orders. We were quite fortunate because we invested in the fleet before Covid, to acquire as many vehicles as possible and stay ahead of the competition.”

Additional issues include equipment price increases across the board. Yet, despite these assorted challenges, Enviroclean remains optimistic and committed to its plans for growth. The company feels the responsibility of being a major employer in the area, so is committed to continued employment and training for its knowledgeable team.

The existing Enviroclean fleet of vehicles and machinery gives the company an edge when tendering for new contracts. Not only is Enviroclean equipped for a broad range of services, but the company also has the expertise and depth to chase the larger contracts available in the market.

“I have been in the industrial drain cleaning business for 30 years with different companies,” concluded Mr Donaghy, “but with

Enviroclean I have watched the company grow for the last 16 years. This is a business model which Jim continues to grow, along w ith the management team and all the operational staff.

“I always enjoy the various jobs we undertake, especially assessing the works for the clients, to ensure all elements of the task are covered for the health and safety elements and the client receives the correct machines to carry out the contract. Enviroclean invests in different machines which makes the work easier on the operators and the company is fully committed to safety.” n

Offering environmentally friendly solutions in the hydrocarbon processing industry, GTC Vorro Technology aims to simplify and improve the process of sulphur removal. Phil Walsh, Vice President of the Environmental Services division, and Joseph Gentry, Vice President of the Technology Licencing division, explained how the company has established its presence in the sector. Report by Hannah Barnett and Phil Nicholls.

GTC Vorro Technology is a turn-key environmental services and technology provider to oilfield, refining, petrochemical and chemical companies around the world. The company focuses on the areas where hydrogen sulphide is not being properly removed, or where there are consequential environmental costs for doing so.

Formed a decade ago, GTC Vorro began life as an offshoot of GTC Technology, a technology licencing company. Its core business provides Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) removal associated with natural gas production typically utilising solid adsorbent scavengers, as well as options to address redundant sulphur plant capacity in refineries. It has since incorporated additional technology to cover higher sulphur loadings that apply to a broader range of the market.

Joseph Gentry, Vice President of the Licensing Division, explained how the com - pany identified a gap in the market when it brought different parts of the industry together: “We found synergies between the different divisions and between the different segments that had not been explored. The Midstream people don't talk with the Downstream people and viceversa. And there are a lot of inno vations in one area that could be applicable to the other. One of the things that we're doing is bringing those together.”

The company is focused on expanding the business significantly, as Phil Walsh, Vice President of the Environmental Services division, acknowledged: “Our employees, combined with certain other consultants coming in and out as we need, are dedicated to the company’s development. And we are in a growth mode.”

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, GTC Vorro conducts many of its operations remotely, closer to the oil wells themselves. Mainly this means in West Texas, around the

“GTC VORRO’S METHOD OF SULPHUR REMOVAL HAS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS AN OPTIMISED PROCESS DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY ”

Permian Basin which as Mr Walsh explained: “Tends to have a relatively high concentration of hydrogen sulphide that needs to be removed.” Going forward, the company is planning to enter into Canada and other international markets.

Expanding with partnerships

‘Growth mode’ seems an accurate assessment of GTC Vorro’s current status. The company is developing in exciting ways, recently announcing a partnership with Rameshni & Associates Technology and Engineering (RATE), a global speciality engineering firm providing state-of-the-art process technologies for sulphur processing and acid-gas removal. Described by Mr Gentry as ‘mutually beneficial’, the partnership will offer process technology solutions to customers along with full-service sulphur removal.

“It is a convenient way to deploy first rate technology without having to go to multiple parties,” Mr Gentry continued.

“RATE is a single entity, covering a broad range of technical aspects focusing on sulphur. We can combine our innovations with their engineering skill set to deploy and commercialise, thus providing synergy and convenience for both parties.”

Bespoke treatment

GTC Vorro’s method of sulphur removal has significant environmental benefits. This is because it is an optimised process designed for maximum efficiency. Mr Walsh explained how the company, ‘provides a full ser vice’, which is unique in the US market, and possibly across the world.

The Environmental Services Division works to simplify the H 2S removal process and enhance real-world performance with minimal adsorbent volumes consumed. It does not sell H 2S removal chemistries but rather a turnkey, customised approach to the client’s specific needs, utilising the right process, product, equipment and people for each application.

Mr Walsh elaborated on this: “We are taking responsibility and ultimately the financial risk for how well the overall system performs. We are not selling chemistry to a customer who then has to work out how best to apply that chemistry, manage and measure the process, and sort out waste disposal etc. GTC’s focus on the end result allows us to become the experts, and fine tune things to improve the performance of the whole system.”

As a result, the company utilises resources in a conscientious manner and the business model is inherently more economic and environmentally friendly. Additionally, the company is moving the industry towards a non-hazardous method for sulphur removal.

Mr Gentry expounded on the benefits of GTC Vorro’s approach to sulphur removal: “Petrochemical plants may use caustic trading to remove the sulphur,” he said, “but then you have waste caustic which is a waste problem; and from that you have a high cost. If we can treat by different means, then you can avoid the use of the caustic treatment or greatly diminish it. We’re solving two problems: we're using a cheaper method, plus we're avoiding a waste stream that needs disposal.”

Looking forward

It is an exciting time for GTC Vorro, as new possibilities for growth emerge. Mr Walsh explained that though the company is not immune to the international supply chain issues being felt across all industries, it is currently sourcing, developing and evolving new options to foster security of supply both in respect of availability and commercial stability.

Opportunities to move into different markets are presenting themselves all the time, according to Mr Walsh: “One of the areas we're looking at is Liquefied Natural Gas. They are also having to deal with hydrogen sulphide in very high volumes of gas, but relatively low H2S.” The company is also investigating the use of hydrogen sulphide to make a high-end fertiliser.

Mr Gentry and Mr Walsh agreed that the strength of GTC Vorro’s customer base is one of the highlights of what they do, along with the sense of fulfilment they both seem to get from doing it. “It’s really solving problems,” Mr Gentry said, “I’m a process technologist at heart, and there are a lot of opportunities in which you can have an engaging discussion and find some solutions: and then we can bring together something that will make an improvement for their operation.”

Mr Walsh finds satisfaction in interactions with clients too, and in working at the cutting-edge of industry: “It feels almost like being a missionary into the market, trying to get that message out. And then the satisfaction of developing those relationships. Our model is not ‘an independent sale, and then then we move on to the next sale’. We are developing strong, ongoing relationships with a lot of customers. And it's very satisfying to see those grow as we become embedded as their H 2 S removal experts.”

Sol Ecolution I Profile

Amidst the global effort to reduce the impact of climate change, countries around the world are turning to renewable energy solutions to supply their energy needs. In the Caribbean, Sol Ecolution has positioned itself to be the leading regional supplier of commercial-scale solar power systems to governments, businesses and other entities. Regional Manager Dami Adesegha spoke to Richard Hagan about the company’s surging rollout of solar power technology in the region.

Sol Ecolution, based in the Cayman Islands, is the low-carbon and renewable energy division of The Sol Group, a member of Parkland Corporation.

As the largest supplier of energy solutions in the Caribbean, with operations spanning 23 countries, The Sol Group has deep relationships within the energy sector in the region. But also, as with its peers around the world, The Sol Group is actively planning for its continued involvement in the energy market as the world gradually shifts away from fossil fuels.

Sol Ecolution is the vehicle that will drive that energy transition, as Regional Manager Dami Adesegha explained: “In 2019, The Sol Group began to think about the future and what the next 10, 20 or 30 years will look like for us. Thinking long term, it was clear that the Caribbean region’s energy mix will substantially change towards renewables.

“Rather than just allowing that to happen while we’re stuck trying to defend the past, we decided to use our position, capabilities and experience in the region to become actively involved in driving that change, not only for ourselves but also for the benefit of our customers, stakeholders, utilities and others. We’re uniquely placed to do that given our relationships within the energy ecosystem.”

Building a dynamic team

Sol Ecolution was formally established in January 2021, with the simultaneous appointment of Mr Adesegha. He has since moved quickly to build a dynamic team of experienced energy industry professionals. And as he confirmed, the Sol Ecolution team has wasted no time in executing on The Sol Group’s mandate, with an initial focus on rolling out systems to The Sol Group’s existing properties. “By the end of 2022,” he said, “30 of our own sites will be fully operational with solar energy solutions. We expect that number to accelerate substantially between 2023 and 2024.”

By late November 2022, Sol Ecolution’s team comprised ten professionals organised into three units. Its two technical units include electrical and mechanical engineers, while its business team deals with financial and sourcing opportunities. The whole team is geographically spread across several islands, including Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

Through local partnerships, Sol Ecolution can install solar at the utility and commercial scales for governments, utilities and the private sector. The team also benefits from the Sol Petroleum presence on each island, generally consisting of people who are local to that island, often having spent t heir whole lives there. They’re consequently able to leverage their relationships and cultural insight within the island, for the benefit of the company.

“That’s how we know that the Caribbean is really ready for this solar rollout,” said Mr Adesegha. “Our conversations prove that the appetite for solar is there; I can’t emphasise that strongly enough. So, our mission is to find a way to facilitate these projects. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the positive reception we’re getting from our stakeholders in the islands.”

Creativity to break barriers

Sol Ecolution pursues opportunities to add value across the Caribbean’s renewable energy landscape. Leveraging the market knowledge, experience and presence gained from solarising the company’s existing properties, Sol Ecolution offers solar PV systems to commercial customers at no upfront cost. “Installing solar at no upfront cost reduces a significant barrier to entry and allows more businesses to move to renewables,” said Mr. Adesegha. “Businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy costs while prioritising other investments – it’s a win-win.”

Sol Ecolution’s commercial strategy aims to increase opportunities for customers to participate in sustainable activities. The company rolled out its carbon credit program in 2022. Customers can purchase internationally verified carbon credits through Sol Ecolution to offset their emissions. In addition to selling credits, Sol

Ecolution is further developing this program through several eligible greenhouse gas reduction initiatives.

Being a good neighbour

The Sol Group places a huge emphasis on being a good neighbour to the communities amongst which it operates. Within each of the markets in which it operates, The Sol Group supports and sponsors a number of community activities and events, ranging from school projects to environmental groups, sporting events and general community initiatives. A particular highlight is the annual Sol Rally Barbados, for which the Group would sponsor a car and a driver.

“It’s important to us to be a good, productive social citizen, to earn our right to operate within these communities,” Mr Adesegha said. “We take it extremely seriously. An important part of this is our commitment to safety.

“We’re dealing with volatile substances. They’re products that can be very unsafe if not handled carefully. We’re handling a lot of fuel every day, so it’s a big part of being a responsible citizen and historically, our safety record has been very positive.”

Finding inspiration in the sun

While Sol Ecolution is still a relatively young business, and also a new category for The Sol Group, the company is extremely enthusiastic about the work that it’s doing and the future it’s creating for the Caribbean. “We have an opportunity to make a significant difference for entire countries in the Caribbean. That’s incredibly inspiring,” Mr Adesegha explained. “Sol Ecolution makes financial sense for the group, but it also makes a positive difference in the world.

“When I look at our four operational solar energy sites in Barbados, I see the positive impact that it’s having on the environment. Energy is a critical resource that the entire world relies on. We’re playing an important role in making that resource more sustainable and that, to me, is a cause as worthy as any other.”

In 2022 alone, with its rollout of solar systems across its own properties, Sol Ecolution has line of sight to a significant pipeline of over 100 solar projects. “The business opportunity is massive,” he concluded. “We’ll continue to go out there and capture those opportunities.” one planet – one chance – one voice