Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon announce preferred bidder

Laing O’Rourke will construct turbine house and sluice structure block.

Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon has taken a ‘major step forward’ by announcing a preferred contractor for part of the development. 

The entire project, which will be a huge boost to the construction industry, is worth a total of £1Bn. 

This harbour-type structure will close off the tidal sea area and incorporate hydro turbines that the sea moves through to generate electricity. 

This week’s announcement is significant in this process, as Laing O’Rourke will be tasked with constructing the turbine house and sluice structure block. 

Costing approximately £200M, this will provide a 410-metre turbine house and it will swell employment in the area, because it is expected that during peak construction, 500 people will be needed to undertake the project. 

The upshot of this is the boost it will provide not just to employment, but specifically, to local employment. Those who work on the site will come from the south Wales area, and any materials for the build will be provided locally. 

Once completed, the project will harness low carbon electricity that is sustainable for generations. 

The lagoon – the first man-made of its kind – will be able to generate renewable power for more than 155,000 homes for 120 years. 

Other power stations will be closed down in the next few years but this large-scale tidal power at the lagoon will be connected to the National Grid by 2018, and as well as providing coastal flood protection, the development is important in the fight to become more energy efficient. Indeed, the plan is to save upwards of 236,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. 

Jonathan Adams is the Project Lead at Laing O’Rourke and is “thrilled” to be part of such a significant development. 

He said: “From London 2012 to St Pancras International Station to Heathrow Terminal 5, we’ve been involved in the delivery of some of the UK’s most celebrated infrastructure projects. 

“Today,  the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon is the talk of the international construction industry and we are thrilled to be playing a part in its delivery.”

Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd is playing a prominent role in developing infrastructure as a way to harness natural power from the rise and fall of tides. 

Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon is its first project and is seen as the blueprint for future tidal lagoons in the UK. 

As well as meeting electricity demands, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon can play an important part in showing the way forward in the future with the various social, environmental and economic advantages it can display. 

Moving forward, a contract for the main build should be signed towards the end of the year, while tenders are being run for the marine works and public realm ancillary works. 

The summer will see tenders announced for the lagoon’s public realm and buildings work. 

Andrew McNaughton, Director of Engineering & Construction at Tidal Lagoon Power, added: “Announcing that Laing O’Rourke is joining the team is a major step forward for the project. 

“As preferred bidder, their contribution over the next few months alongside General Electric and Andritz Hydro will be invaluable in preparing for delivery on site in 2016.”

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