An Orkadian Summer
During June and July 2004, Pelorus Surveys were commissioned to conduct two hydrographic and geophysical surveys within the Orkney Isles to gather information for the potential establishment of marine renewable test energy locations.
Marine surveys for renewable energy locations have increased dramatically over the last few years as a change in Government and EU legislation has forced an attempted shift away from non-renewable fossil fuel energy. This has brought about many weird and wonderful designs of tidal and wave generators (surface and sub surface) in addition to the multitude of offshore windfarms that are now being developed by private enterprise in the race to find a cost effective, efficient solution to non renewable energy sources.
Orkney is one such place well suited to tidal and wave energy due to its tidal currents (often in excess of 6 knots) and large wave fetch conditions. The establishment of test locations will allow developers to deploy and test designs within a previously installed infrastructure. Two sites were chosen for the investigation, one in Scapa Flow and the other to the north of the Orkney mainland that were ideally sited for the project.
Working in such a harsh environment led to the need for careful survey planning to utilise tidal currents to our advantage, however there were still occasions when the vessel was surveying backwards.
The surveys were completed successfully and on time allowing the survey crew a chance for some sightseeing before the long ferry trip home! |
