Wind farm BoP

Category: Geology and geotechnics

  • The importance of the geophysical survey for a Wind Farm

    Today we speak about geotechnics…yes!, geotechnics, that activity that sometimes sounds strange but is so essential for the development of a proper wind farm project. More specifically, we will see in detail tomographic refraction tests and MASW analysis. This information is key for wind turbine foundation design but also can be needed for several other…

  • I can’t believe they invented it: “factual” vs “interpretative” geotechnical report

    One of the things I’d like the most about my job is the fact that I still learn new things, even on topic were I wrongly believe there is not much more new to see. This week during a telco with my accomplice in crime Eduardo I’ve discovered a new trick that I suspect has…

  • Karst problems in wind farms: use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

      For the second time in 2 years I’m working at a wind farm with a potential karst problem. If you’re reading this post you are probably aware of what is karst – basically, the result of dissolution of rocks such as limestone and gypsum, that can produce beautiful landscaping results (such as caves, sinkholes…

  • Gravel columns in wind farm foundations

    I’ve just received a short technical summary of the works performed in Raki (Chile) from Terratest, the company who has made the gravel columns. Unfortunately it’s in Spanish, but the pictures are beautiful 😉 About 9000 meters of gravel columns have been put in place. The diameter is 80 cm, while the length changed depending…

  • Geotechnical parameters for WTG foundations design

    This is the first post after a long silence (more than 6 months), fortunately due to good news (the birth of my first son, who reduced dramatically my free time). I want to thank José Ramon, one of our experienced Project Manager, who pushed me to start again 😉 This post is about geotechnical parameters…

  • Geotechnical survey for a wind farm: standard field and laboratory tests

    In general, the geotechnical study of a wind farm should describe the terrain in order to provide the necessary information to develop the following works: Turbine foundation project: definition of the allowable soil bearing capacity and the most appropriate type of foundation (e.g. shallow, semi-deep, foundation on piles, etc..). Wind farm access roads and hardstands…

  • Floating roads on peat

    Floating roads are a solution developed in Scotland during the construction of several Km of internal wind farms roads on very poor, organic materials such as peat. It is an interesting constructive technology, developed on a very compressible, decayed material normally considered as the worst possible subgrade for road construction. In a normal highway project,…

  • Tensar Triax geogrid use in wind farms

    Here you have a real world example of geogrid use. We are in a wind farm in southern Spain, and thanks to previous experience with this technology the client decided to use a Tensar Triax geogrid TX160. This is a triangular geogrid (the “old school” version was square). It seems that the triangular geometry guarantee…

  • Peck’s Cone (Cono de Peck)

    Every month I have the opportunity to read several geotechnical survey made for wind farms all around the world. There are enormous differences between countries, not only in the formal presentation but also in the type of tests used, that often depends on tradition and historical reasons. For instance reading a geotechnical study made in…

  • Geotextile vs Geogrid: which is the best solution?

    This is a debate we are living each time we have to build internal roads on soils with a low (<5) to very low (<2) CBR. Basically when the others alternatives (mainly soil substitution and soil improvement) are not feasible we are adopting two different solution, either a strong geotextile with reinforcement and separation properties…