Van Elle’s General Piling division was appointed to deliver foundation works for the Eastern Green Link 2 onshore transformer station, a key part of a major energy project bringing offshore wind power ashore and distributing it across the UK. This strategic development connects northern Scotland to Yorkshire via subsea cable.
Project Background
- Appointed by BAM.
- The scope of work comprised the installation of 699No. Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles, including 240No. 600mm diameter piles and 459No. 450mm diameter piles.
Challenge
The site presented highly variable bedrock levels, which caused early refusal of the piling rig in certain areas. The ground investigation report suggested the possible presence of boulders, adding complexity to the piling operation.
A strong partnership with the client and early review of site data allowed identification of potential ground challenges before piling began. This allowed for a collaborative and proactive approach with both the client and the design team to develop suitable solutions without delays.
Van Elle Solutions
To address the challenging ground conditions, Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piling was selected as the most cost-effective and suitable method for the client. Across the site 699No. piles were installed comprising 240No. piles with a diameter of 600mm and 459No. piles with a diameter of 450mm. All piles were installed to the specified design depths of up to 21.5 metres.
The piling works were carried out using the Soilmec SR95 and Llamada P160 rigs. The SR95 rig provided valuable flexibility, with the ability to switch to rotary mode if deep obstructions such as boulders were encountered, ensuring work could continue with minimal disruption. This approach allowed us to efficiently manage the variable ground conditions while maintaining progress on site. Static load testing was completed as part of the final quality assurance process.