SSE Renewables has invested over £100M to date in the proposed Coire Glas hydro pumped storage scheme, with a significant proportion assigned to ground investigation. Coire Glas, at Loch Lochy in the Scottish Highlands, will be the largest such scheme to be developed in the UK for over 40 years and will include caverns 700m below ground level and over 12km of tunnels. 

The 1.2km exploratory tunnel was completed in August.

The two speakers at the event at the Glasgow Marriott will be SSE Renewables project manager Andy Gregory, and Strabag UK sub-agent Douglas Whiteford.

Andy Gregory has been involved in all stages of the scheme, from feasibility to the present day and is currently project manager for the site exploratory works package.

He will explain the scheme development to date, and describe the works executed to minimise the risk from unexpected ground conditions through collection of high-quality data to be used in main works design. 

Douglas Whiteford will cover the execution of the project’s exploratory works contract carried out by Strabag in 2023-2024.

Whiteford has worked on the Coire Glas exploratory works since 2022 and will present the logistics of establishing and servicing a site in a remote area of the Scottish Highlands. He will also describe the drill and blast tunnelling methodology used with a sprayed concrete lining and rock dowels for tunnel support.

The lecture is an in-person event and is free, but spaces are limited to 50 so advance registration is essential. To register, contact James Halfpenny, james.halfpenny@breedongroup.com; 07711859151