RSK Group, one of Britain’s fastest-growing environmental consultancies, has secured a pivotal role in transforming Aberdeen’s energy landscape through an innovative landfill conversion project that exemplifies the growing trend of repurposing contaminated sites for renewable energy generation.
The Surrey-based multinational, which reported record revenues of £2.2 billion in its latest annual results, is leading the engineering and construction of an 8MW solar farm on the former Ness Landfill site through its renewables division RSK Renewables. The project represents the first phase of a broader green hydrogen infrastructure initiative developed by bp Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited (bpAHEL), a joint venture between oil giant bp and Aberdeen City Council formed in March 2022.
Engineering design activities have commenced at the site, with construction anticipated to begin early in the upcoming year. RSK Renewables is tasked with the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and testing of the planned 8 MW solar power plant. Their work on the rehabilitated landfill site necessitates “careful management” to prevent disruption of the capping layer and existing gas vents and monitoring points, according to an RSK representative.
To tackle this issue, RSK’s internal design and structural engineering teams have created a design and construction approach that employs a lightweight, tree-like mounting system that reduces ground penetration.
“This innovative design minimises ground disturbance, preserving the integrity of the former landfill’s protective capping while securely and efficiently supporting the solar array. With this solution also not requiring concrete or ballasted foundations, it enables the project to be built with a reduced CO₂ impact,” said RSK Renewables managing director Adrian Strudwick.
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RSK Renewables has conducted various site surveys and initial design activities to guide the detailed design stage. The surveys included pull-out tests to evaluate ground strength and verify the appropriateness of the mounting system, as well as corrosivity testing to assess the aggressiveness of the soil environment and guide material choices.
Aberdeen’s Hydrogen Economy Vision
The solar installation serves as the cornerstone of Aberdeen’s ambitious plan to establish itself as the UK’s leading hydrogen city. The bp Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited joint venture targets production of over 800 kilograms of renewable hydrogen daily once operational in 2026, sufficient to fuel 25 buses and similar numbers of fleet vehicles.
The broader Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub programme envisions three development phases, with future expansions potentially serving rail, freight, and marine applications while creating up to 700 skilled jobs by 2030. The initiative builds upon Aberdeen’s existing hydrogen infrastructure, including Europe’s largest hydrogen bus fleet and a megawatt fuel cell powering the city’s Event Complex.
