25 January 2010
Headland Archaeology Ltd. has been awarded a contract worth approximately €50k to provide transboundary marine archaeology consultancy services for a 260km underwater electric power cable linking Ireland with Wales.
The large scale energy project being developed by EirGrid Plc, the Irish commercially run semi state company which manages and operates the Irish electricity transmission system, will be the first electricity link between Ireland and Wales. It will create a two-way power transmission between the nations by the end of 2012, supplying enough energy to power 300,000 homes.
The EirGrid East West Interconnector will improve the security of energy supplies, promote competition in the electricity sector, and encourage the growth of renewable energy.
The Irish and UK subsidiaries of Headland Archaeology Ltd. were appointed to the project following a full procurement process. Headland Archaeology Ltd. has begun work on the project, conducting a cultural heritage assessment within Irish waters. The firm will provide specialist marine archaeological services to EirGrid right through to installation in 2012, which will include Environmental Impact Assessments (EIS), site survey supervision and procurement advice and stakeholder liaison. Headland Archaeology Ltd. is the perfect fit for this type of project due to its wealth of experience and knowledge in the marine, infrastructure and renewable sectors, as well as its ability to work in two countries and in two currencies.
Dr. Dan Atkinson, Headland Archaeology's Maritime Manager, who will manage the project, said "This joint project between our Irish and UK subsidiaries is a major coup for the company, and will enable EirGrid to benefit from the specialist marine archaeology expertise held by the teams located in both countries. It also highlights the capacity of our business to undertake large transboundary infrastructure projects."
Dr. Atkinson continued "This is a growing sector for us and the first of its kind for Headland Archaeology Ltd. However, with European developments in the renewable and energy sector steadily on the increase, this type of project will become more frequent as the requirement for improved transboundary grid connections emerge." He added "This is a very specialist field, and Headland is one of very few companies with the required expertise, capacity and resources to carry out consultancy for a project of this scale."
Established in 1996, Headland Archaeology is one of the largest archaeology firms in Europe. With a turnover of €13.6m in 2008, the Headland Group supplies services to Ireland and the UK, with offices in Cork, Galway, Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Flagship projects for Headland Archaeology in Ireland include major road schemes such as the N25 Waterford Bypass, N9 Carlow to Kilcullen Road Scheme, N6 Nenagh to Limerick Dual Carriageway; together with archaeological works required in advance of the Shannon LNG, Metro North in Dublin and the Kish and Bray Banks Offshore Windfarm. Whilst in the UK, projects include Clyde Windfarm in South Lanarkshire and the Camster Windfarm in Caithness, the Western Isles Interconnector, the M80 and M74 roads projects, Edinburgh Trams, The New Scottish Parliament and Forth Crossing at Kincardine.
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