Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions (GDG) was recently awarded €500,000 from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to undertake a research project to investigate the seabed characteristics of the Irish Sea and the implications for offshore wind energy developments along the East Coast of Ireland.
On the 7th of January, 16 apprentices commenced the Geo Drilling apprenticeship in Institute of Technology Carlow. These apprentices will be the first to undertake the new course. The 16 apprentices are drawn from the companies and agencies below.
The objective of the Geo-Drilling apprenticeship is to provide drillers with a dedicated Higher Certificate in Science qualification (National Framework of Qualifications Level Six). The apprenticeship is a two-year programme which combines ‘on-the-job’ work experience with academic study. Apprentices will work with their employer’s for 41 weeks and attend classes at IT Carlow 4 days a week for 11 weeks.
The apprenticeship is delivered by the Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC) and the lead industry partner is Geoscience Ireland. The need for this qualification was identified by the drilling industry in partnership with Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), IT Carlow and the Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS).
Further Information
Further information is also available from the industry lead for this apprenticeship:
Stephen Walsh
Geoscience Ireland
Tel: 01 678 2808
E mail: stephen.walsh@gsi.ie
Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions (GDG) is working as Owners Engineer on PGE Baltica’s BALATICA 2 and 3 project; PGE Baltica is part of the Polish state utility PGE Capital Group.
PGE has progressed the project over the past 12 months with several critical studies and site surveys. The project reached a major milestone last month with the tender process kicking off for the geotechnical investigation campaign which will provide further certainty on the ground conditions at the site. GDG is supporting PGE with ground model development, survey management and preliminary foundations study.
The Baltica 2 and 3 projects when combined have a total capacity of up to 2.5GW; Baltica 3 (1GW) will likely reach first generation around 2026, with Baltica 2 project delivering a further 1.5GW in the subsequent years.
To achieve these ambitious goals, GDG have been working closely with project developer PGE Baltica to progress a range of activities including detailed interpretation of geophysical data across the entire study area, analysis of cable routes, foundation concept design studies, ground model development and procuring a geotechnical site investigation for the 2020 campaign, which will ultimately inform the next iteration of ground model delivery.
Managing Director of GDG, Paul Doherty, noted that “Over the next 12 months, we anticipate to see further refinement of our technical understanding of the site with respect to metocean, wind and geotechnical data, which will yield enhanced cost and programme certainty”. As part of GDGs role on the project, they are tasked with mitigating the key ground risk and ensuring state of the art analysis and design techniques are brought into the project to deliver the optimum LCOE.
For the full Press Release, see here.
Specialist geotechnical and marine engineering consultancy, Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions (GDG), have strengthened their offshore and renewable energy teams with the recent addition of Paul Bonar.
Geoscience Ireland (GI), in collaboration with the Irish Centre for Fresrch in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), will be exhibiting at the AME Roundup mining conference in Vancouver this January 20-23; we look forward to meeting you at booth #1518. Read more →
The first apprentices to undertake the Geo Drilling Apprenticeship took their induction on 4-5 December at the Institute of Technology Carlow. 12 apprentices will be starting the programme in January of 2020.
A well attended Seminar at Engineers Ireland HQ on 26 November heard a presentation from Jukka Ahonen of Mincon PLC on its innovative Spiral Flush drilling technology. Designed to minimise the impact of piling and foundation works on adjacent properties, Spiral Flush has been successfully deployed for many construction and infrastructure projects .
At the 2019 Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards Ceremony on 15 November in Dublin , GI companies were prominent in being short listed and winning in several categories.
Damien English TD, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development launched the Geo Drilling Apprenticeship at Tara Mines Ltd 11th November.
Geoscience Ireland (GI) is delighted to welcome Stephen Wheston to our Panel of Individual Experts. Stephen has over 20 years’ experience in sustainability management with a focus on industrial settings. Stephen was Environmental Manager at Lisheen Mine between 2003- 2017 and Stephen’s current role is Director at Tembusu Sustainability and Risk Management Consultancy. Read more →
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