Galway Wind Park, Ireland – Detailed Design & Construction Support

Geotechnical

Location: Galway, Ireland
Client: Roadbridge Ltd.
Status: Completed
Overall Project Value: N/A

Brief Description

The 174MW Galway Wind Park (GWP) was co-developed by SSE and Coillte and is currently the largest onshore wind energy site in Ireland. The development comprises of 58 Siemens 3MW wind turbines over four separately wind farms namely Uggool, Lettercraffroe, Cloosh and Seecon. Associated infrastructure constructed during the development includes substations, substation, permanent met masts, borrow pits and access tracks.

Construction commenced in 2015 with works completed in 2017.

View More Close

FT Responsibilities

FT were retained by Roadbridge Ltd to undertake detailed geotechnical design for the following elements of the development:

  • Detailed geotechnical design of all access roads, including designs for the geotechnical make-up of the constructed ‘founded’ and ‘floating’ road types
  • Geotechnical input into the detailed design of the cable route and cable route crossings
  • Detailed geotechnical design of the hardstand and turbine sub-formations.
  • Detailed geotechnical design of the borrow pits and material deposition areas including peat retaining structures.

During the construction phase of the development FT provided full time site support in the form of a specialist geotechnical clerk of works. As well as providing full time supervision and support during construction activities the FT clerk of works also undertook a range of site inspection and validation works at key stages of construction. These included:

  • Inspection and verification of formation level for founded road construction and supervision of found and floating road construction.
  • Inspection and sign off as Designers Representative of turbine foundation base formations
  • Monitoring of peat deposits across the development site for instability issues during construction and the completion of peat stability assessments prior to commencement of rock breaking or blasting activities in peat areas.
  • Detailed slope stability assessments at peat deposition areas and associated retaining structures.

Project Statistics

Statistic Icon

58

Total of 58 Siemens wind turbines developed

Statistic Icon

4

Development of 4 separate wind farms

Statistic Icon

2

A 2 phase project