Specialist guano removal across boiler, turbine, chimney, roof and control areas at a major UK power station – delivered at short notice with safe work-at-height, compliant waste handling and zero impact on power generation.
Sector: Power generation / industrial
Location: Peterhead Power Station, North-east Scotland Client: Major UK energy provider
Bird guano isn’t just unpleasant – in a power station it’s a hygiene, corrosion and slip hazard that can compromise safety and maintenance access.
As part of a planned maintenance programme at Peterhead Power Station, the client needed targeted guano cleaning across multiple critical areas of the plant while keeping the station online and safe
Sureclean deployed a small, highly specialised team with dedicated equipment and chemicals, delivering fast, controlled cleaning with no impact on operations and full environmental compliance
The Challenge
The scope covered guano removal from:
Boiler and generator areas
Turbine hall
Basement and internal structures
Chimney, roof and elevated areas
Power control unit and surrounding access routes
The work had to:
Be completed at short notice within tight maintenance windows
Address work-at-height risk on roofs and elevated structures
Maintain strict hygiene, safety and environmental standards
Avoid disruption to the power station’s operational schedule
The client needed a partner who could mobilise quickly, work safely in complex access conditions, and manage hazardous waste correctly.
Sureclean’s Solution
Sureclean designed a focused, risk-controlled guano cleaning scope built around specialist people, owned equipment and proven methods:
Targeted specialist team A two-person team of experienced industrial cleaning technicians mobilised with:
Specialist guano cleaning chemicals and disinfectants
Industrial vacuums and manual removal tools
PPE suitable for biological contamination
Safe work at height Cleaning on roofs, chimneys and elevated structures was carried out using:
Harnesses, inertia reels and appropriate anchorage
Strict adherence to work-at-height and exclusion-zone controls
Continuous supervision and compliance with site permit-to-work systems
Controlled waste management Removed guano was:
Safely bagged at the point of removal
Double-bagged and sealed to prevent leakage or secondary contamination
Routed offsite for compliant disposal in line with environmental regulations
Sureclean’s fully owned equipment fleet and experienced crews meant we could mobilise at short notice, maintain consistent quality and adapt to site conditions without delay.
Results
The campaign delivered clear, measurable outcomes:
All designated areas cleaned thoroughly and safely – including boiler, turbine, basement, chimney, roof and power control areas
No impact on the power station’s operational schedule – all work completed inside agreed windows
All guano waste double-bagged and removed for compliant offsite disposal
Zero incidents or downtime on the critical path
Cleaning completed efficiently and to the client’s satisfaction, forming part of their ongoing maintenance and hygiene programme
In post-project feedback, the client commended Sureclean’s:
Professionalism, efficiency and safety performance, highlighting our ability to deliver consistent results at short notice while maintaining high standards of quality and environmental compliance.
What this shows about Sureclean
This project shows how Sureclean applies the same engineered, risk-aware approach to “soft” contamination (like guano) as we do to heavy industrial cleaning:
Rapid mobilisation from a fully owned fleet and experienced crews
Safe access and work-at-height expertise in complex industrial environments
Integrated cleaning and compliant waste management that protects people, assets and the environment
Whether it’s guano, hydrocarbons or NORM, the outcome is the same: clean, safe, compliant assets – delivered with minimal disruption to operations.
