Plans for SSE Renewables’ Coire Glas hydro pumped storage scheme have taken a significant step forward with the receipt of tenders for the project’s main construction works.
Six short-listed tenderers from around the world are taking part in the Invitation To Tender (ITT) process to conduct the civil engineering and mechanical and engineering works on the project.
For the civil engineering scope they are Bechtel, Acciona Construcción and Webuild consortium; BAM Nuttall Ltd, Eiffage Génie Civil and Marti Tunnel consortium; Dragados and BeMo Tunnelling UK consortium; and STRABAG UK.
For the mechanical and electrical plant scope it will be ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH and Voith Hydro GmbH & Co KG partnership; or GE Hydro France
Coire Glas would be the first large-scale hydro pumped storage scheme to be built in the United Kingdom for more than 30 years and the ITT for the main construction works has attracted global interest.
Reviews of the tenders are now underway, following which, it is anticipated a preferred tenderer will be selected for the mechanical and electrical scope and two tenderers will be selected for the civil engineering scope.
The preferred tenderers will work with the Coire Glas team on a programme of extensive ground investigation works, running from July 2022 to autumn 2023, which will allow them to refine their proposed project designs.
The selection of the preferred civils tenderer, who will work with the chosen mechanical and electrical tenderer to construct Coire Glas on a turnkey basis, is scheduled for autumn 2023.
The construction phase of the project is scheduled to commence in spring 2024 and, is expected to support up to 500 jobs.
Coire Glas project director Ian Innes said: “Receiving the tenders on schedule from the six short-listed tenderers is another significant milestone for the Coire Glas project and we are grateful for their continued interest in the project.
“We are encouraged by the content of the tenders which now provides the Coire Glas project team with several options on how construction of the project could be undertaken.
“It is going to take some time to carefully consider and scrutinise the tenders thoroughly and we look forward to working with the tenderers as we endeavour to make our selection decision.”