About

Who we are

Since 1992 B9 has developed 10 wind farms, run up to 49 more, made electricity from landfill gas and built one of the world's first compressed air energy storage demonstrators. Today B9 Energy Control still runs landfill gas engines, the group develops the hydrogen and green methanol that could fuel ferries between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and B9 Renewables installs solar panels, batteries and EV chargers.

From our headquarters at 5 Willowbank Road, Larne, built in 1994. See our projects

The Maritime Power-to-X project team and partners standing together outdoors — The Maritime Power-to-X project team and partners

Our history

Since 1992

1992–2015
Wind
Earlier work
B9 began by developing wind farms, then ran the UK's largest independent wind farm operations and maintenance business.
1992
B9 is founded. B9 Energy was set up to develop renewable energy projects, and went on to develop 10 wind farms across the UK and Ireland in partnership with RES.
1994
B9 O&M formed. B9 O&M became the largest independent operations and maintenance company in the UK, running up to 49 wind farms across the UK and Ireland until 2015. Our Larne headquarters was built the same year.
2006
Stake sold to RES. B9 sold a stake to RES, its wind energy development partner.
2011
First Flight Wind. B9, RES and Ørsted began developing First Flight Wind, a 600MW offshore wind farm. The project was shelved in 2014.
2015
B9 O&M sold. B9 O&M was sold to Siemens Gamesa.
The First Flight Wind development area, 2011–14
2002 to today
Energy from waste
Still part of what we do
Electricity from landfill gas, which carries on under B9 Energy Control, and anaerobic digestion at the Granville Ecopark until 2019.
2002
Landfill gas. B9 Energy Control developed a method of harnessing landfill gas.
2015
Landfill gas projects. B9 Organic Energy developed 7 biomethane-augmented landfill gas projects.
2019
Granville Ecopark sold. The Granville Ecopark anaerobic digester was sold to Equitix and Helios.
2008 to today
Storage and Power-to-X
Still part of what we do
Storing surplus renewable power, and turning it into hydrogen and green methanol for shipping.
2008
Compressed air energy storage. B9 built one of the first distributed-scale compressed air energy storage demonstrators in the world.
2011
B9 Energy Storage. B9 Energy Storage was set up. It now leads B9's Power-to-X, green methanol and maritime projects.
2022
B9 Technologies. B9 Technologies was set up to develop net zero technologies, focusing on Power-to-X and energy storage.
2024
Maritime Power-to-X. With DFDS, Larne Harbour, Mutual Energy and other partners, B9 Energy Storage completed a feasibility study and pre-deployment trials of green methanol for freight ferries, funded by the Department for Transport (2024–25).
The Maritime Power-to-X trial site at Larne Harbour, 2025
Today
Solar, batteries and EV chargers
Still part of what we do
Solar panels, batteries and EV chargers for homes and businesses are now installed by B9 Renewables, part of the B9 group.
More about solar
2024
Firmus Energy. Two 15kW solar PV systems with battery storage for Firmus Energy's Antrim headquarters.
2025
B9 Renewables. B9 Renewables was set up to install solar panels, batteries and EV chargers for homes and businesses.
2025
Larne. A commercial rooftop solar installation in Larne.
A commercial rooftop solar installation by the B9 group

Our team

David Surplus, OBE
Founder and CEO, B9 Energy Storage
Chartered marine engineer and former Lloyd's Register surveyor who moved from marine and offshore oil and gas into renewables in 1992 to form the B9 Energy group. He has developed 10 onshore and 2 offshore wind farms, provided O&M services on 49 wind farms, and developed industrial-scale anaerobic digestion and 6 landfill gas power stations. He now focuses on energy storage and green Power-to-X projects.
Dr John Harrison
Chief technical officer
PRINCE2-qualified project manager with over 15 years' experience in the innovation and renewable energy sectors. Project director on multiple EU-funded delivery projects. Specialises in energy storage, technical assessment and techno-economic analysis of renewable energy assets.
Ian Harvey
Founder and CEO, B9 Energy Control
Chartered accountant and a member of the original B9 Energy team, with 30 years' experience in renewable energy project development. His work spans wind energy, biogas (including anaerobic digestion plants) and landfill gas sites, mainly in Northern Ireland.
Hollie Neill
Senior chemical engineer
Background in hydrogen and net zero projects. Chemical engineering degree and a master's in Net-Zero Engineering from Queen's University Belfast, postgraduate certificates in Zero Carbon Engineering and Hydrogen Energy Systems, and a certificate in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge.
Jonathan Kerr
Head of hydrogen engineering
Chartered mechanical engineer with over 20 years' experience in design and project management in the power generation and oil and gas sectors, in roles covering client consultancy, conceptual design, FEED studies and full EPC.
Elys Leetch-Armstrong
Computing technologies placement student
Third-year Computing Technologies student at Ulster University, on placement with B9 Energy Storage. Elys works on data research and analysis, and on the website.