Geophysics for Solar Energy Installations TerraDat has accumulated a wealth of experience over the years, providing geophysical ground exploration services to the energy industry. By working alongside energy developers TerraDat has developed a suite of geophysical techniques ideally suited to the main needs of solar farm developers. Archaeological magnetic gradiometry surveys are often required in the early stages of solar farm development. Due to the large areas involved, these surveys can be expensive and time consuming. TerraDat’s state of the art rapid archaeological acquisition system counters this, by providing up to 40ha of high-resolution magnetic gradiometry data per day. The increased efficiency of this system is because we use a towed multi-sensor rig. The survey results are delivered as fully interpreted plots in popular CAD/GIS formats to easily integrate with client’s systems .
Solar Energy
TechnicalNote
To optimise PV locations and associated infrastructure works, a combination of magnetic, ground conductivity and microgravity surveys can be used to map underground hazards such as buried services, UXO, mine workings, solution features, voids and fracture zones.
1007 58.021
58.23 Hedge
60.09
Grass
60.51
60.92
k
Ht=2.0m
59.48
60.23
p
q q
o
n
65.204
1009
Rapid Archaeological Surveys
a
61.61
n
n
h
62.95
n
61.09
c
61.49
60.85
Underground Hazard Mapping
h
m
57.65 57.64
g
58.94
62.13
57.12
67.28
57.67
Pond
Ht=2.2m
Hedge
61.17
61.06
58.92
TH
57.52
j
59.80
57.74
f 62.77
Grass
Hedge Ht=2.2m
58.71
63.75
Ht=2.0m
e
b
1005 62.533
e
Hedge
62.80
Grass
n
Geotechnical Information
Example of finalised data - magnetic gradiometry to the left and interperetive plot to the right, data can be suppled in a variety of CAD and GIS formats
The Sensys rig can be towed by a variety Buried features revealed by ground conductivity survey of vehicles, from ATVs to tractors Conductive till
25
Soil resistivity survey
Chainage (m) 30
35
40
Resistive bedrock
45
50
55
60
300
0
Surface gravels
40
60 Test 1 Test 2 80
Elevation
“a” Spacing
20
Increasing resistivity
0
20
Resistivity (Ohm.m) 100 200
*Cost Effective *Non-invasive *Rapid Ground Coverage *Environmentally Friendly *Swift Mobilisation/Global Coverage
Resistivity tomography surveys are used to provide information on the shallow geology and soil electrical properties for earthing design. This approach is more accurate than the traditional 4pin method as it is possible to derive more reliable resistivity values. Thermal properties of the soil can be analysed by using a thermal resistivity meter to acquire data either at surface, or within trial pits.
Resistivity vertical electrical sounding (left) and tomographic section (right) Contact Simon Hughes for more info; simon@terradat.co.uk
TerraDat (UK) Ltd - Tel (08707 303050) www.terradat.co.uk