Coire Glas named Ground Investigation Project of the Year at the Ground Engineering Awards 2024
Coire Glas is the first large-scale pumped storage scheme in the UK for more than four decades. Situated in the Scottish Highlands, the team has had to deal with challenges around the site’s high elevation, sloping and uneven ground, and unpredictable weather conditions..
The winning team comprises of colleagues from SSE Renewables, Fugro, Stantec, and COWI. The project was also shortlisted for the Geotechnical Team of the Year award, represented by Coire Glas partners STRABAG and the British Geological Survey.
“This award is a fantastic achievement, and is testament to the expertise, dedication and hard work of our teams and delivery partners.
Coire Glas is vital in helping the UK deliver on their net zero ambitions and the success of the complex GI works to de-risk the project have set a benchmark for what can be achieved through collaboration in remote and large-scale project sites. ”
Coire Glas stood out to judges as Ground Investigation Project of the Year due to the high levels of innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety, and value engineering.
The site team worked under challenging conditions, particularly at Sean Mheall, where drilling was carried out 24 hours, 7 days a week, with colleagues living in self-contained accommodation 887m above Loch Lochy, with the only access being by helicopter.
