Are you looking for underground utility searches for your renewable energy project?
Over the last few years, solar and wind-farms have been a huge growth area for the UK and Cornerstone Projects.
As well as the general excavation required to construct wind turbines and solar farms, they have the added complexity of routing and connecting cables to the main electricity grid.
We provide many renewable energy companies with underground utility plans to help them do this both safely and cost effectively, from only £58+VAT per site.
How Cornerstone can help
- Cornerstone supply a basic search that will cover the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive.
- We can also supply a full cable search if required in city/urban areas.
- Basic searches are generally returned within 1-5 working days and cable searches within 7-10 working days.
- Completed searches are presented in a simple to read and accessible .pdf format.
- No obligation quotes are available instantly on-line and confirmed back via email within 20 minutes.
- We can also provide a CAD drawing service to enable the utilities to be added to other CAD reports and providing an overview of the site showing all the utilities present.
- We can now also produce a PDF from the CAD drawing that enables you to see an overview in .pdf and turn different utility layers on and off.
What does a basic search cover?
- Our basic search covers the main utilities, however, you can opt to remove services if you already have plans.
- Cable and Independent Utilities options are available if required.
- Our standard search covers up to 200m around a point.
- We cover projects of any size.
Why use Cornerstone?
- Speed is of the essence to ensure there are NO delays to your projects.
- The way we process our searches, there will be no one quicker than us.
- Some basic searches will be back within 1 working day, with a UK average of 3 working days.
- We provide the fastest search possible and will not entice you with promises of more expensive, faster searches when they are simply NOT achievable.
- We offer an additional “Instant Access plans” service where we will share individual plans as they come in.
- With a cable search (that tends to take longer), for a small fee of £5+VAT, you can order an ‘interim pack’ containing the main utilities once they have been received.
- For high volume users, we even offer a GIS mapping library for managing and posting searches to improve access for your employees when in the field.
Easy to use
The key to our success is the speed and efficiency of reporting and making sure that the right information is given to the right person in the correct format.
- Our online ordering system allows quotes and orders to be processed within minutes
- The system is secure and has fail-safe checks to ensure the right search location is covered.
Costs
We understand that keeping costs to a minimum is extremely important.
- Our fees start at £58.00+VAT plus disbursements.
- All disbursements are charged at cost (we are transparent in our pricing and only make our margin from our fees).
- We do also offer volume discounts.
- For statutory undertakers (or those working on their behalf), we may be able to request plans for free with the appropriate letters of authority.
- Comparing the cost of outsourcing to us vs. the resource required in-house may surprise you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are utility searches for renewable energy projects?
Underground utility searches are essentially a map that helps you navigate buried infrastructure like electric cables, gas pipes, water mains, and sewer lines beneath your project site. By pinpointing the exact location and depth of each utility, these searches help you avoid accidentally damaging them during construction, which can lead to serious safety hazards, costly delays, and even fines.
Why are utility searches important for renewable energy projects?
There are several reasons why utility searches are crucial for renewable energy projects, including safety, cost, and regulations. By conducting a comprehensive underground utility search upfront, you can minimise these risks and ensure the smooth and safe execution of your project.
What type of renewable energy projects require utility searches?
Any renewable energy project that involves excavation or underground construction needs a utility search. This includes:
- Solar farms: Underground power transmission cables and electrical grids need to be avoided during solar panel installation.
- Wind farms: Buried power lines and communication cables can be present near wind turbine foundations.
- Biomass plants: Water lines, gas pipelines, and electrical conduits may be present where biomass feedstock is stored or processed.
- Geothermal facilities: Deep drilling for geothermal energy can encounter existing water wells or other utilities.
- Any project requiring groundworks: No matter the specific renewable energy technology, any project involving digging, trenching, or drilling needs a utility search to ensure safety and avoid costly surprises.
In conclusion, utility searches are an essential part of any renewable energy project that involves excavation or underground construction. They help you avoid safety hazards, costly delays, and regulatory fines, ensuring the success of your project.