"The AGEC take over doubles the size of our geotechnical team and complements Fehily Timoney's specialised geotechnical engineering design and consultancy services and our expertise in the infrastructure, renewable energy, waste management and urban development sectors," said Eamon Timoney MD of Fehily Timoney.

"Our geotechnical team can now provide a full range of geotechnical engineering and engineering geology services. This includes earthworks design for major infrastructure projects such as highways and railway; design of earthworks and structures on soft ground and shallow and deep foundations for buildings and structures - including deep basements. The expansion of our geotech team further enhances our export suitability for use in the UK and abroad.

"We combine our geotechnical capabilities with state-of-the-art GIS data management software to effectively present geotechnical information. We have particular expertise in the provision of windfarm geotechnical services, including peat stability assessment and turbine foundation design," Timoney concluded.

Commenting on the take-over, AGEC MD, Turlough Johnston, added: "This development augurs well for the industry and will give our clients access to a greater range of services. Our staff have come together to offer unrivalled, specialist service and an expert group of engineers and scientists. We have the up-to-date knowledge of best practice, latest technologies and industry trends, to guarantee an exceptionally high-quality service throughout the lifecycle of a project from site investigation to feasibility and detailed design to on-site supervision and completion."

The firms previously worked together on projects such as the €420 million (US$472 million) Kilgallioch Wind Farm in Scotland. Fehily Timoney was employed by Farrans Construction to act as civil/structural and geotechnical designers on the works in Stranraer by Scottish Power Renewables, a unit of Iberdrola. AGEC supported the ground investigation and design of the turbine bases for the project.

The teams also worked together on Ireland's largest wind farm, Galway Wind Park. It was co-developed by SSE and Coillte in Connemara's Cloosh Valley. Fehily Timoney carried out extensive environmental assessments, including ecology, hydrology, geotechnical and engineering fieldwork with AGEC. The project included detailed design, transformer bases, hard standing areas and wind monitoring mast bases.