UK consultancy KGAL has been appointed as the M&E design specialist for the proposed £650m state-of -the-art Swansea Bay tidal lagoon - the first of its kind in the world.
KGAL will provide the detailed design and coordinate all the mechanical and electrical works, forming an integral part of the design team developing the project up to the construction stage.
A new twist on old ideas, the 250MW privately funded project will use proven technologies to revolutionise power generation and provide a range of community benefits. Construction could begin as early as 2015 and if it goes ahead, the proposed power plant should harness enough energy to generate over 400GW/yr - enough to power over 100,000 homes with low carbon, renewable electricity for up to 100 years - by 2017.
“This project is an exciting and innovative scheme, which will help to stop the lights going out in the UK," said Ken Grubb, Managing Director of KGAL. "It offers huge benefits, including enhanced security of supply and reliable, predictable, low-carbon energy, as well as educational, cultural, sports and recreational benefits to the surrounding communities.
“We are well placed in the development design team since we are able to provide the full M&E design spectrum in-house, including gates, turbines, generators, control systems, transmission and connection - part of our "water-to-wire" strategy."
Ton Fijen, Technical Director of Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay) added: "We recognised that this was a specialist role and in KGAL we found an adviser that understands the market and also our needs."
A film illustrating the concept of the scheme and how it will look can be viewed at http://www.tidallagoonswanseabay.com/film.aspxvideo.
Image: Courtesy Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay)
