Mountain power station project sees FEG work one mile underground

A need for specialist design engineering services in a truly unique and challenging location has seen FEG Global deliver highly bespoke solutions for the UK’s power industry – one mile underground beneath Scotland’s ‘Ben Cruachan Mountain’.

As part of planned maintenance works at Drax’s Cruachan Power Station in Argyle and Bute, the global renewable energy company required a fit-for-purpose extraction system that would accommodate fumes and other residues accumulating from work taking place deep inside the site’s cavern.

Necessary engineering works on several large valves as well as general maintenance requirements saw activities take place underground over two floors and below the point where the fumes were to be vented. Therefore, the extraction system needed to be mobile to accommodate the location of each valve and robust enough to manage the tough environment.

To further meet client needs, FEG Global designed and installed an upgraded system for Drax, integrating new, bespoke elements into the existing underground ductwork.

This dynamic approach also reduced costs, increased efficiencies and promoted sustainability values by repairing and reimplementing as many parts and sections as possible, rather than pushing for a full replacement.

Chris Williams, Managing Director of FEG Global, explained, “This was certainly one of the most unique locations that we have delivered a project, and being one mile inland and underground certainly made it different from the norm. However, we have worked closely with Drax and other clients within the power industry for some time now, so we fully understand that these sites are very complex due to their nature.

“Our engineering team worked hand in hand with site personnel to really understand the power station, the issues and the requirements of the job, and by doing so we were able to create significant upgrades to the system. This not only provided solutions to their initial problems but also offered wider benefits going forward, embracing sustainability values and cost efficiencies as well as future-proofing processes too.

“For Drax and Cruachan Hydro Power Station, we have now delivered and installed a system that it fit for purpose and can also be used in various locations throughout the site going forward as, when and wherever needed.”