Nicol of Skene is carrying out HDD and trackway works as part of the 33kV connection for the Golticlay Wind Farm development in Caithness, Scotland.
Working alongside McGowan Infrastructure, our team was appointed to undertake the detailed design and construction of five Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) crossings required for a new 33kV export cable circuit.
The crossings included two trenchless crossings beneath the A9 Trunk Road, a watercourse crossing within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and two minor road crossings where existing utilities added to the complexity of the work.
Following completion of the HDD design, Nicol of Skene mobilised a Ditch Witch AT120 drilling rig to carry out the crossings. The trenchless approach allowed the works to be completed beneath roads and other sensitive areas without open excavation.
Ground conditions and access across the route also presented challenges. Our Extreme-Mat trackway system was deployed to create stable working platforms and access routes, helping to reduce rutting and minimise disturbance to the existing ground.
All five HDD crossings were successfully completed, with Nicol of Skene delivering the design, HDD installation, temporary trackway and additional resources required to maintain progress on the project.
The Golticlay Wind Farm, developed by RWE Renewables, has a capacity of 62.7MW and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. The new 33kV connection forms part of the infrastructure required to connect the development to the grid.
The works were carried out between March and October 2026, with Nicol of Skene delivering the HDD and trackway elements of the project alongside McGowan Infrastructure.
A great achievement by everyone involved in delivering the infrastructure needed to support one of Scotland’s latest renewable energy developments.
