Graz, February 10, 2015. Following an international bidding process, Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay plc. has appointed the consortium by GE/ANDRITZ HYDRO as preferred bidder for supply of the electromechanical equipment for the world’s first tidal lagoon hydropower project in Swansea Bay, Wales.
The advance works agreement has now been signed. The bidding volume for the consortium is in the region of 400 million euros. The ANDRITZ HYDRO share amounts to approximately 250 million euros (with a substantial creation of value in the UK). The main order for supply of the electromechanical equipment is scheduled to enter into force in the later course of 2015 upon fulfilment of all requirements and procedures. Start of commercial operation is scheduled for 2019.
The tidal lagoon hydropower plant will be located in the Severn Estuary and will have an installed capacity of 16 units with over 20 megawatts each. The Severn Estuary has the second highest tidal range in the world, and in this estuary, Swansea Bay benefits from an average tidal range of 8.5 meters during spring tides. The plant will supply clean, renewable, and predictable power for over 155,000 homes and contribute significantly towards national carbon emission reduction targets with over 236,000 tons of CO2 saved each year.
The ANDRITZ GROUP
The ANDRITZ GROUP is a globally leading supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors. The publicly listed, international technology Group is headquartered in Graz, Austria, and has a staff of around 24,500 employees. ANDRITZ operates over 250 production sites as well as service and sales companies all around the world. The ANDRITZ GROUP ranks among the global market leaders in all four of its business areas. One of the Group’s overall strategic goals is to strengthen and extend this position. At the same time, the company aims to secure the continuation of profitable growth in the long-term.
ANDRITZ HYDRO
The business area supplies electromechanical equipment for hydropower stations. With over 170 years of accumulated experience and more than 30,000 turbines installed totaling approximately 420,000 megawatts of output, the business area is one of the world’s leading system suppliers, offering the complete product portfolio, including turbines, generators, and additional equipment of all types and sizes: “from water to wire” for small-scale and large hydropower stations up to outputs of more than 800 megawatts per turbine unit. ANDRITZ HYDRO is also well-positioned in the growing maintenance, refurbishment, and upgrade market for existing hydropower plants. Pumps (for water transport, irrigation, and applications for various industries) and turbo-generators for thermal power stations are also part of the business area.