Ground investigation in sensitive peatland habitats

Overview

The ICE Wales Cymru Ground Engineering Group have organised this event.

Angus MacGregor of BAM Ritchies will talk about Project Viking, a ground investigation for a planned wind farm, comprising 103 wind turbine generators, 10 borrow pits and 75km of access roads, in a remote location in Shetland delivered by BAM Ritchies during the summer season of 2019.

Viking Energy Wind Farm LLP, the wind farm developer, is a joint venture between the Shetland Community and the utility company Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE plc).  The wind farm site is to cover approximately 70km2 in area, and as such the topographical, hydrological and geological characteristics of the site vary greatly.  The site comprises largely undeveloped (modern day) uplands (verging on mountainous) of an undulating nature rising up to 281m above sea level, with numerous lochans and watercourses spread across the site.  The hills and ridges are generally peat covered with significant erosion features, including haggs, peat pipes and historic peat slides.  Peat thickness is variable with some significant accumulations on shallower slopes.  Underlying rock comprises complex metamorphic formations which are hard, and can alternate between abrasive and non-abrasive, and generally strong or very strong.   Typically there are zones of poor rock quality due to weathering and faulting.

At the time of site works, the focus of the ground investigation was to maximise understanding of ground conditions while minimising the ecological impact of the peat landscape.