Specialist engineering and design consultancy, Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions (GDG), part of the Venterra Group, has been engaged by Wills Bros Ltd, to undertake civil and geotechnical design on the proposed Timahoe North Solar Farm Enabling Works, Co. Kildare.
The site, which is located on a cutaway peat bog, requires careful consideration to the design and construction techniques and mitigation requirements for construction within the soft peat ground conditions. The enabling works will pave the way for a 70MW solar farm, a co-development agreement between ESB and Bord na Móna, which will provide enough electricity to power 22,000 homes and help Ireland to meet its renewable energy targets.
GDG’s scope includes the alignment and geotechnical design of 3.3km of new floated access tracks to the proposed solar farm along an existing disused railway line, the earthworks design for the 110kV substation platform, and contractor compound area. Additionally, GDG will design a peat repository for the safe storage of all excavated peat material, temporary drainage systems and settlement ponds, and the provision of civil and geotechnical design guidance on the utilities and grid connections.
GDG’s Managing Director, Dr Indrasenan Thusyanthan, said “At GDG, we have extensive experience in finding innovative engineering solutions for projects with difficult ground conditions, such as peat. We’re delighted to bring this expertise to the Timahoe North Solar Farm”.