News

Irish Drilling joins RSK

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RSK has announced the acquisition of Irish Drilling Limited (IDL), a member of Geoscience Ireland and a leading mineral exploration and ground investigation contractor.

Founded in the mid 1960’s, Irish Drilling has its head office in Loughrea, County Galway. It has carried out major geotechnical investigation and mineral exploration drilling contracts in Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man and France. Its clients include Irish Water, SSE Renewables, Bord na Móna/Powergen, Anglesey Mining plc and various public sector organisations.

Recent projects have included geotechnical investigation for
• Eastern and Midlands Region Water Supply Project (Irish Water)
• Wind farm projects on behalf of Bord na Móna
• Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme (Galway County Council/Transport Infrastructure Ireland)
• Ten-T Priority Route (Donegal County Council/Transport Infrastructure Ireland).

In addition, the company has recently completed a mineral exploration drilling programme for Parys Mountain (Anglesey Mining plc).

Irish Drilling has a team of 40, including engineers, geologists, mechanics, laboratory technicians and drillers.

Irish Drilling Managing Director Ronan Killeen, who will continue to lead the business, said: “We are delighted to be joining the RSK Group and believe that the expertise and resources that the RSK Group can provide will help us to expand and grow the business throughout the island of Ireland.”

RSK Chief Executive Officer Alan Ryder said: “We are delighted to welcome Irish Drilling, an internationally recognised mineral exploration, drilling and geotechnical investigation contractor, to the Group. IDL has been an expert in its field for more than 50 years and its team will help RSK, the largest provider of geotechnical investigation in the UK, to expand its drilling capability into Ireland in support of existing and new clients.”

RSK  now comprises more than 175 companies, employing 10,000 people. The group’s annual turnover at the end of the financial year 2021/2022 is expected to be in excess of £800 million, more than double that of the previous year.

For more information, please contact Lisa Templeton, RSK Media & PR Lead (ltempleton@rsk.co.uk)

First Geo-Driller Graduates from SETU

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The first graduates in Geo-Drilling were awarded their Higher Certificates in Science by South East Technological University (SETU) at its Carlow campus on 12th January. The 18 successful apprentices were from the classes of 2021 and 2022.

The Geo Drilling Apprenticeship, launched in late 2019 by the then Minister of State  Damien English TD, is designed to provide a Level 6 qualification for the very skilled and exacting work by drillers who gather data and information on the subsurface. This information is a crucial foundation for the development of groundwater resources, minerals , construction, energy  and infrastructure projects.

The Apprenticeship is overseen by a Steering Committee representing industry, state, semi-state, regulatory, trade union,  professional organisations  and third level bodies, including Geoscience Ireland (GI), Geological Survey Ireland,  the Health and Safety Authority, SIPTU, Irish Water, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, Engineers Ireland Geotechnical Society, the International Association of Hydrogeology, the Irish Mining & Quarrying Society, the Institute of Geologists of Ireland and  the Irish Association for Economic Geology. Several drilling companies are represented, including GI members Irish Drilling, Priority Drilling, Causeway Geotech,  Geo Drilling Solutions, GSI  and QME. Other companies on the Steering Cte are Tara Mines, Fogarty Drilling and IGSL.

Commenting at the Graduation Ceremony, Sean Finlay of GI and Chair of the Steering Committee said;

“I am delighted to see the first Apprentices in Geo-Drilling receiving their Certificates. Despite the challenges of Covid and personnel shortages in the industry, SETU staff led by Ger Keohane (Course Director) along with Anne Crowley, Brian Byrne and Stefan Peterson have delivered an excellent and comprehensive qualification  for a cross section of experienced and new drillers  in the field. The support of industry, the Steering Committee and of SOLAS has also been crucial. In particular, the role played by the principal contacts for the Apprenticeship – Stephen Walsh and Shane Lavery initially and Joe Mongan since 2022 –  who liaise with SETU, the students and the industry has been essential for the success of the course.”

The photo shows the Apprentices present at the Conferring Ceremony and includes SETU and GI staff.

 

GI member QME Develops EV Kits for Mining Equipment ;

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QME , a member of Geoscience Ireland, is proud to offer new EV “plug and play” battery kits for all medium and light underground Mining equipment.

With more than 35 years of experience of both operating, maintaining and rebuilding of used Mining equipment, QME have aligned with 2 EV companies  to offer direct replacement EV kits for all types of medium and light underground Mining equipment including the world-renowned Toyota Landcruiser. This EV transformation represents a huge advance towards reducing the carbon footprint traditionally associated with mining. The concept behind the  offering is to retain as much value as possible from existing resources, products, parts and materials to create a system that allows for long life, optimal reuse, refurbishment, re- manufacturing and recycling.

QME EV has collaborated with Xerotech, an Irish battery company and Swiss company Motics whose ePowerone system leads the way in electro-mobility systems.  Successful field trails of the reconfigured Land Cruiser have been undertaken at Boliden Tara Mines in Navan Co Meath in Ireland as seen in video link below..

QME EV Solutions can be contacted directly at EV@qme.ie
#mining #supplychain #electricvehicles #recycling #technology #design #management #experience #development #development #safety #environment #sustainable #transformation #EV #evsolutions #batterytechnology

https://lnkd.in/e6cnhuZK

John Barry joins Geoscience Ireland (GI) Panel of Experts

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Geoscience Ireland (GI)  is pleased to welcome John Barry P Geo to its Panel of Independent Experts.

John  has an impressive CV having been involved in mineral exploration and development in Ireland, Poland and Africa with several companies as a director (e.g. Rathdowney Resources, Group 11) or as an advisor. John has contributed significantly to the Minerals Information Group led by the Institute of Geologists of Ireland and has acted as an effective spokesman for the sector. See  https://irusconsulting.com/

Advancing the Geothermal Energy Sector

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Geoscience Ireland (GI) has been deeply engaged in understanding, researching and promoting the Geothermal Energy Sector in recent  years. Geothermal Energy is a renewable and sustainable resource for district heating , and at sufficient temperatures, a source for electricity generation.

Reflecting the high temperatures found in the earth’s core, earth temperatures increase with depth, usually at a rate of 25°C per km.  Geothermal Energy  utilises the geothermal gradient to harvest hot water, either by extraction or by injection and recovery.

Geothermal Energy is generally considered under two headings-; power generation   and district heating. Power generation is provided by waters with temperatures of c +130°C, while district heating is provided by waters at lesser temperatures of 50-100°C.

At present, development  is largely confined to areas where the geothermal gradient is high i.e., where the cover rocks are thinner above the hottest areas of the subsurface. Areas of lower geothermal gradients can also be developed; they require access by deeper drilling.

The European Union (EU) recognises the potential of GE by supporting research and analysis of commercial aspects of the sector. GI has been a partner  in  the EU’s COSME  funded projects – Geo Energy Europe GEE 1 & 2. These projects bring together European know how , technologies and experience from eight business clusters in  seven countries  comprising over 600 members. The GEE 2 project is designed to evaluate opportunities for participating companies in exporting expertise and creating business collaborations with a focus on Market Study Visits to four markets- Chile, Canada, Kenya and Costa Rica.

Joe Mongan of GI has co- led  these Market Study Visits which have yielded valuable information on the scale and opportunities in these markets. While the  GEE2 project was adversely impacted by Covid travel restrictions,    member companies  have developed business agreements and revenues in these markets, as well as establishing an effective network among GEE2 members.

In Ireland, the potential of Geothermal Energy is being investigated and promoted by Geological Survey Ireland, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, iCRAG  and the Geothermal Association of Ireland.

The absence of a regulatory framework has hindered geothermal energy  development. In contrast to the EU average of 23%, Ireland relies on only 6.3% of renewables for its final energy consumption for heating and cooling while Sweden leads at 66%.

Climate Action initiatives have refocused attention on the sector and has seen the inclusion of GE for District Heating in the Climate Action Plan 2021. A number of policy documents have been published in recent years including a GSI Assessment of Geothermal Energy for District Heating in Ireland; a 2020 Non-Technical Roadmap for a Policy and Regulatory Framework and a Draft Action Plan and Draft Policy Statement in 2021. Legislation is planned under a Geoscience Bill by the end of 2023 to deal inter alia with legal, planning and regulatory issues for the sector.

Geological Survey Ireland has dedicated geothermal energy  staff and provides technical support to government on technical and regulatory issues. GSI is developing a National Geothermal Database– an important element in de-risking projects. It also engages in public information and engagement. The Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience (iCRAG) also conducts research in the area and supports GSI’s public engagement activities.

Promising projects in Ireland include heating at NUIG, a higher than expected geothermal gradient of 38C at TU Dublin’s Grangegoeman campus and two demonstrator projects in Northern Ireland.

National Geothermal Energy Summit

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Geological Survey Ireland organised an informative and comprehensive conference on geothermal energy on 9th November. Hosted by Technological University Dublin at its Grangegorman campus, the well attended event was addressed by Ossian  Smyth TD, Minister  for Circular Economy, who outlined progress on legislation being prepared  and reiterated government support for the sector. The Conference included sessions on policy development, geothermal energy for district heating, how best to assess geothermal potential and how best to support the sector. Speakers from Northern Ireland,  the EU, UK, France , Canada and the Netherlands shared experiences on the development of geothermal energy in those countries. Contributors from Ireland included the Geoscience Policy Division of DECC, GSI, iCRAG, NUIG, DIAS and UCD. Dublin City Council, TU Dublin, DECC  and SEAI shared ambitions regarding the development  of District Heating in Ireland.

Geoscience Ireland (GI) members are closely involved in the sector, providing drilling, geophysical, geological and environmental  services along with submissions on policy. GI and GSI are  lead participants in  the EU Geo Energy Europe 2 Geothermal project; GI’s Joe Mongan is currently on a Market Study Visit with GEE2 to Cosdta Rica.

 

Geoscience Ireland (GI) meets Five Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) ; Day 2

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On the second day of a visit to Dublin by five MDBs- the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank, – were welcomed by the Minister for Public Procurement. Ossian Smyth TD to the Enterprise Ireland HQ at East Point .

At a well attended seminar, Kevin Sherry of Enrterprise Ireland, Donal Cronin of the Department of Foreign Affairs  and Dr Paul Ryan of the  Department of Finance shared Ireland’s commitment and ambition to secure more MDB business.

A Panel discussion chaired by broadcaster Sean O Rourke heard the  five MDBs share insights on the essential elements for successful tendering for lucrative consultancy and design contracts offered by these International Financial Institutions. A second Panel consisting of Sean Finlay (GI) , Michel Davitt (N O Dwyer), Trevor O Reagan (EDCI), Dan Morrissey (GDGA) and Anne Marie Conibear (J B Barry) shared insights on their experiences in bidding , winning and delivering MDB contracts. A series of one to one meetings with the MDBs followed.

Paul Maguire of Enterprise Ireland was responsible for the very successful engagement with a potential source of major business provided by multilateral agency funding.

photo ; Michel Davitt, Sean Finlay, Minister Ossian Smyth, Kevin Sherry

Geoscience Ireland (GI) meets Five Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) ; Day 1

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Geoscience Ireland was pleased to co-host a visit to Dublin this week by five MDBs to University College Dublin  and to Enterprise Ireland’s HQ in Dublin .

Representatives from the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank and the  Asian Development Bank visited Dublin over two days on 24th and 25th October.

On Day 1 at UCD, the MDBs heard from selected GI members SLR, iCRAG and Nicholas O’Dwyer Consulting Engineers on  successful projects financed by MDBs in Africa,Vietnam, Turkey, Georgia and the Balkans. Professor Triona McCormack, UCD’s Director of Research and her colleagues Miceal  Brennan of UCD NOVA, Darrin Morrissey of NIBIRT and Andrew Keane of the Energy Institute  outlined impressive successes arising from innovative applied research start – up companies, including GDGEO, ( a GI member),  Oxymem , Novogrid and Manna.

Photo shows participants at the UCD Seminar.

Geoscience Ireland (GI) at Geotechnical Society Conference

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GI was pleased to be invited to present a paper on Geothermal Energy at Engineers Ireland Geotechnical Society Conference in Port Laoise on 19 October.

The Conference theme was Geotechnical Engineering for Renewable Energy and included presentations on foundations for solar, onshore and offshore wind projects. Geothermal energy can make an important contribution to energy  decarbonisation and can also enable recovery of critical minerals from thermal brines.

GI members were will represented, including APEX, ARUP, Byrne Looby, Fehilly Timoney, JB Barry, GDGEO, Irish Drilling, SLR and  iCRAG.

Geoscience Ireland (GI) Members contribute to IMQS Webinar on Energy Management

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The Irish Mining & Quarrying Society IMQS  recently hosted a most informative webinar on Energy Management in the Extractive Industries. Paul Gordon of GI member SLR outlined  how geoscience contributes to energy storage, the hydrogen economy and renewable energy and the opportunities for the mining and quarrying sectors in carbon management. Kevin Doran of GI member Roadstone provided money -saving guidelines for energy management in quarries, highlighting supports from Enterprise Ireland for energy audits and Climate Adaption Vouchers.

Daniele Novara of Easy Hydro presented an innovative paper on a  hydropower energy recovery at Boliden Tara Mines. Alan Dolan , Vice President of IMQS acted as moderator.

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