INVITATION TO TENDER FOR PROPOSED COMMUNITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
2006
12 noon 21st December 2005
OVERVIEW
The tender is to appoint an appropriate individual or organisation to implement a Community Renewable Energy Review with the production of a feasibility study. This study will be crucial for Phase 2 Implementation of seeking funding for Capital Expenditure on equipment for generating Renewable Energy, in full compliance with environmental and legal requirements of the sector. The tender will need to outline the development of a sustainable Social Enterprise to manage and plan for continued growth of the initiative.
INSTRUCTIONS TO PERSON(S) OR COMPANIES TENDERING
Hereafter, the term ‘Community’ means Cymdeithas Cwm Arian Silver Valley Association; the ‘Contractor’ means the person(s) or company tendering.
The ‘contractor’ shall provide proof of the following
Experience/Qualification relevant to the Project
Schedule of project implementation
Experience and links with relevant organisations in Wales and the rest of the UK
Two relevant referee contacts.
NOTE 1.
It is a strict condition of the terms of the Sustainable Development Fund grant under which this Feasibility Study is being funded that payment of the grant is contingent on the project being completed by 31 March 2006.
NOTE 2
The Budget for this study available through the grant is £8,000 to include all expenditure and expenses, and this figure must not be exceeded. The successful ‘Contractor’ will be adjudged, amongst other criteria, on being able to show value for money.
Tenders to be returned to
The Chairman of Cymdeithas Cwm Arian Silver Valley Association
Mr Cris Tomos
Pantyrysgol
Hermon
Tel 01239 821962
Mr Mike Parcell
Tel 01239 831458
1. Background Information
Cymdeithas Cwm Arian – Silver Valley Community Association is the result of initiatives that emerged from the numerous community Action Plan meetings that were held within the catchment area of the three villages of GLOGUE, HERMON and LLANFYRNACH during 2004. These are three relatively small villages (populations of about 120, 385 and 110 respectively), located about three miles south east of Crymych in the north eastern part of Pembrokeshire to the south of the Afon Tâf.
One major aspect of this Action Plan was the development of sustainable energy resources within the area. There is ample evidence in the area of previous use of hydro-power on a localised scale on farms to drive machinery, in mills and in the Glogue slate quarry to drive the slate sawmill.
The intended outcome of this feasibility study and subsequent capital projects is to establish a sustainable renewable energy Social Enterprise, with surpluses being ploughed back into community regeneration projects. The project will provide a blueprint for other communities in the locality to develop similar initiatives.
D. Renewable Energy/Recycling
Develop with sustainable energy groups, for example the West Wales Eco Centre (WWEC), a local strategy for sustainable energy generation, including opportunities for:
Hydro electricity generated from the former mine shaft and pipes,
Wind and solar generated electricity from smaller structures – a more domestic scale serving local needs,
Community Large Scale Wind Turbine – Linking to Sub Station at Llanfyrnach,
Biomass fuel as an energy generator (with links to the farming industry),
Energy saving opportunities in existing and proposed homes.
Information and awareness raising on waste disposal and potential of community enterprise projects eg: FRAME (furniture and appliance recycling).
Meet with the electricity provider to improve the quality of the supply in Llanfyrnach – infrastructure already in place, explore the potential for generating and distributing power locally.
Publicise and clearly sign recycling facilities at the existing PCC site south west of Hermon.
Develop with PCC and other agencies a waste reduction plan for the area including the provision of litterbins and improving the waste collection service
2. Tender Funding Source.
The community of Cwm Arian : Silver Valley has recently been awarded a SDF (Sustainable development Fund) grant for the purpose of carrying out a detailed feasibility study for renewable energy systems. The grant awarded follows on from a preliminary study, which was carried out by community members for possible ‘grid connected’ micro-hydroelectric installations.
This project is to undertake a feasibility study to outline the options for the development of community owned Electrical Power Sites in the area covered by Cwm Arian Community Forum - Hermon, Glogue, Llanfyrnach. As part of the project we will wish to conduct an energy audit and also investigate alternative forms of renewable energy such as micro-hydro, solar, wind and biomass. A redundant Hydro Electrical Power unit exists at one of the Farms in Valley with three other potential Micro Hydro sites identified by an engineer who is a member of the community forum. There is an existing set of 11 wind turbines at Blaenwaun Wind farm (Owned by a Scandinavian energy corporation) that feeds into a substation located in the Village of Llanfyrnach and which could form part of a community wind turbine development.
The feasibility study will aim to look at ALL the community energy options available within the area to reflect an environmentally integrated development strategy. The intended outcome is the production of renewable energy and to ensure viability with surpluses ploughed back into community regeneration projects. The project will provide a blueprint for other communities to develop similar initiatives. The SDF grant awarding body has stipulated that all information produced as part of the Feasibility Study be copied on to DVD or CD format for circulation to other community Groups, and that a Web Site be established to disseminate findings and information to other interested community groups.
3. Preamble to Specification
The feasibility study to be carried out by the ‘contractor’ will form the first phase of a possible renewable energy strategy for the ‘community’.
It is probable that the successful ‘contractor’ would be invited to tender for further work should the necessary monies or sponsorship funding be made available to the ‘community’ at some future date.
In order to minimise any future financial risk to the ‘community’ a high level of technical accuracy must be embedded in all recommendations contained within the feasibility study report.
4. Report Specification
The study and subsequent reporting should be centred on the following components and methodologies:
A detailed appraisal of the possible ‘community’ micro hydroelectric sites
A detailed appraisal of the possible ‘community’ wind turbine sites
An appraisal of other renewable energy potential within the ‘community’ ( Which may include bio-mass, Geothermal and solar energy ) This should include energy crop potential within the ‘community’ , solar and geological data
A completion cost for each scheme
Base Line, Mid Term and Final ‘community’ Consultation & Evaluation Sessions
A calculated payback on investment for each scheme
Projected running costs/whole life costs
Observations of all environmental and ecological issues specific to the ‘community’
Grant availability and financing for phase 2 roll out of the Social Enterprise
Legal and monetary options for the community. To include trading options for electrical power produced.
Particular requirements. The outcomes of the investigations regarding specification points 1 and 2 in particular must include recommendations for the following: -
Turbine and control gear type and suitability to each installation.
Electrical generator type and control requirements.
Electrical transmission line requirements, operational and safety equipment requirements for mains connected systems.
DNO requirements for interconnection within the rural electrical infrastructure for the specific ‘community’ area.
All environmental implications relating to the design and construction of building works.
5. Progress and Reporting
It shall be the responsibility of the ‘contractor’ to produce a full timing plan to cover the duration of the work. This will enable progress to be followed by the ‘community’ for the purpose of ‘reporting back’ to its sponsors.
Regular meetings with ‘community’ representatives will form part of the reporting process.
6. Report Requirements
The SDF grant has been provided on the condition that all information contained in the feasibility study is made available to the awarding body to encourage further developments within other communities in the South West Wales area.
All illustrations, diagrams and charts should be in electronic format on a separate CD for presentational purposes.
The main report, for which 3 word processed copies are to provided, must contain all technical, illustrative, diagrammatic and financial information pertaining to the feasibility study
7. References
Please Supply Names and contact details of 2 recent projects completed by your organisation.
8. Geographical Scope of The Study
This diagram must not be reproduced for use in any tender presentation