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Meet The Team
The B9 Energy Group was founded by David and Norman Surplus in 1992 and operates from carbon neutral offices in Larne, Northern Ireland. There are 83 highly talented and motivated people working for B9 across Europe and the USA. The company manages, operates and maintains 45 wind farms comprising 650 turbines at sites across the UK and Ireland. B9 Energy became the first wind farm operation in the world to achieve accreditation to ISO 14001, ISO9001 and OHSAS18001. B9 is developing tidal projects with Statkraft and producing biogas with B9 Organic Energy. This biogas powers the B9 Ship engine.
David Surplus
David has had a lifelong connection to the sea. He has a Marine Engineering
degree from Newcastle and his vacations were spent at Harland and Wolff in Belfast. He served aboard several merchant ships as an Engineer for Ropner Ship Management and went on to spend 11 years with Lloyds Register before setting up B9 Energy. It was whilst working for Lloyds as an Offshore Surveyor, responsible for the construction and commissioning of offshore oil platforms, that he undertook private studies in his spare time gaining a deep understanding of climate change, renewable energy and specifically the understanding of wind turbine technology.
degree from Newcastle and his vacations were spent at Harland and Wolff in Belfast. He served aboard several merchant ships as an Engineer for Ropner Ship Management and went on to spend 11 years with Lloyds Register before setting up B9 Energy. It was whilst working for Lloyds as an Offshore Surveyor, responsible for the construction and commissioning of offshore oil platforms, that he undertook private studies in his spare time gaining a deep understanding of climate change, renewable energy and specifically the understanding of wind turbine technology. B9 Shipping is the result of the combined expertise gained from his maritime experience and understanding of wind technology.
Click here to read an interview with David.
Norman Surplus
Norman Surplus established B9 Energy with David in 1992 delivering renewable energy
solutions across the world. Prior to this he pioneered computer gaming and was responsible for the detailed development of four highly successful series of Grand Prix motor racing programmes where he modelled 3D topographies of all the racing circuits used in F1 between 1990 and 2002. Norman is an accomplished sailor having been Chief Instructor at an RYA sailing school on leaving Bradford University with a degree in Outdoor Community Recreation. He is 2nd coxswain on the RNLI Larne Trent Class Lifeboat. He is also qualified as a BSAC sports diver and if he gets too wet he takes to the sky in his gyroplane! He holds a PPL and recently flew 2000 miles in 7 days from Northern Ireland to Toulouse. Norman is married with two children.
solutions across the world. Prior to this he pioneered computer gaming and was responsible for the detailed development of four highly successful series of Grand Prix motor racing programmes where he modelled 3D topographies of all the racing circuits used in F1 between 1990 and 2002. Norman is an accomplished sailor having been Chief Instructor at an RYA sailing school on leaving Bradford University with a degree in Outdoor Community Recreation. He is 2nd coxswain on the RNLI Larne Trent Class Lifeboat. He is also qualified as a BSAC sports diver and if he gets too wet he takes to the sky in his gyroplane! He holds a PPL and recently flew 2000 miles in 7 days from Northern Ireland to Toulouse. Norman is married with two children. Diane Gilpin
Diane's experience in bringing new concepts to market began when mobile phones were as rare as hen's teeth. She was part of the team that brought Cellnet (now O2) to the UK market as Sponsorship and Advertising Manager. She subsequently set up her own agency and took responsibility for Ford of Europe's Formula One motor racing programme and spent several years working in motor racing where technology transfer from race track to road car were key. Diane moved to a healthier environment - offshore yacht racing - where she project managed LogicaCMG's four year long Global Challenge campaign and then became commercial manager with Mike Golding's Open 60 Ecover. Diane wrote the Bright Green Shipping Company proposal with Jeff Allen in 1997. She studied Business at North London University and has a PG Dip (dist) in Development Ecomonics.
Diane is married with one child. She keeps three horses, a flock of ex battery chickens and grows veg on the family tinyholding. She is Chair of Governors at Holy Trinity School in Great Cheverell, Wiltshire.