GEOINTEC has been the company selected to perform the geotechnical studies for several solar plants located at 4,000 meters above sea level in Argentina.
Under strict safety measures, due to the special location of the project (more than 4,000 meters above sea level), geotechnical survey was carried out to analyze the risk associated with the soil of 3 new solar parks in Argentina. The places selected to allocate these new renewable energy solar plants were Olacapato, La Puna and Altiplano.
A total of 289 “Pull Out Test” were carried out beside the Salar de Cauchari, a mountainous area surrounded by hills of more than 5,000 meters high.
The first two geotechnical surveys were carried out in Olacapato (Jujuy) and the last one in San Antonio de los Cobres (Salta).
Cauchari: Solar megaplant of 300 MW at 4,200 MASL.
In an area of 800 hectares located between the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, near Olacapato, the construction of one of the largest solar plants in South America is planned. It is planned to install more than 1.2 million solar modules photovoltaic with a nominal power of 300 MW “MW”.
GEOINTEC was responsible for conducting the research campaign consisting of 200 pull out test over steel profiles of 4 meters length. The objective was to determine the depth and time of driving, the behavior of the ground in front of the load stages and cycles in the vertical (axial) and the deformations of the ground in front of the load stages and cycles in the horizontal axe.
Despite the complex working conditions, due to height and low temperatures, the compliance with the work schedule established by the client was possible, in part thanks to the good conditions of the national and international routes.
Altiplano: 200 MW at 4,000 MASL.
The full assessment geotechnical study led by GEOINTEC for this solar plant located near Olacapato included situ geotechnical tests, hydrological study and the execution of Pull Out Test, in a surface of 600 hectares.
The combination of variable energy penetration tests with seismic tests allowed GEOINTEC to obtain the compactness of the soil, depth of the rock stratum and characterization of the terrain up to 20 meters depth thanks to the correlation with the modulus of deformation E, Su and Nspt. This methodology developed by GEOINTEC is vital for reducing costs of the geotechnical survey with no loose of information of the geotechnical characteristics of the ground.
La Puna: 100 MW at 3,900 MASL.
“La Puna” solar project, which will be developed on a 300-hectare plot, is another case of the implementation of geotechnical soil investigation techniques at high altitude carried out by GEOINTEC.
In this solar plant, which will have a capacity of 100 MW, the geotechnical studies were carried out with direct profile driving and load tests to determine the viability of using direct profile ramming for the construction. The hydrological study of the area was also carried out.
Preparation:
To carry out the work, which lasted approximately one month, a technical team of three people who led the execution of all the geotechnical tests traveled to the area.
The team of three geologists required not only special equipment, but also special adaptation measures to be able to carry out the work at that height.
Additionally to a work methodology adapted to the work environment, staff training for work at altitude, mechanical adaptation and good logistics planification were needed among others.
