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Geosynthetics are at the heart of an innovative access road design enabling lorries delivering turbine sections to reach the site of a new windfarm in south west Scotland.
When it comes on line in Autumn 2016, the Glenchamber Windfarm in Dumfries and Galloway will generate enough electricity to meet the demands of about 20,000 homes in the area.
PROJECT DETAIL
Renewable energy firm RES appointed main contractor Luce Bay Group to build the windfarm, which included widening 4.5km of local roads, plus construction of 5.9km of windfarm tracks and a new 2.8km access road across the peat bog surrounding the site. Construction began in 2015, with the sections of the 11 turbines due to arrive on site a year later.
ACCESS
“The windfarm tracks and access road were a critical part of the project.” says Luce Bay Group Project Manager David McCracken. “It was imperative that we delivered them in time for the arrival of the first turbine sections in February this year, so they had to be economical and fast to build; plus they had to perform immediately.
“Excavating the thick, very soft peat and replacing it with site-won granular material to form a stable road foundation was impractical, as it would have been time-consuming and expensive.” he explained.
WORKING TOGETHER Luce Bay and its geotechnical consultant JNP Group worked with Tensar International to come up with an alternative solution to dig and replace. This comprised of Tensar’s TriAx TX170-GD geocomposite that was laid beneath the granular road base and TriAx TX160 geogrid
incorporated within it, to form a mechanically stabilised layer. DESIGN SPECIFICATION
“The TriAx geogrid interlocks with the granular particles, confining and restraining them from moving laterally. This increased the aggregate’s bearing capacity and delivered roads able to carry the heavy construction loads,” explained Tensar Area Civil Engineer, Drew McCartney.
Drew concluded: “Not only did the design ensure the access roads were ready for the arrival of the first turbine sections, but it will also enable the road to perform throughout the operational life of the windfarm, with minimal maintenance.”
Tensar
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www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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