The closed-loop project, which is planned at a former open-cast mining site, was ratified as an EU Project of Common Interest by the European Parliament in 2021, and in June 2023 received a grant of €4.3 million through the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) towards development costs. The project, designed to provide 1.8 GWh of storage with 360 MW export capacity and 360 MW of pumping load, will consist of upper and lower reservoirs with capacities of around 2.6 × 106m3 and a head of 300 m. The project will have 3 × 120 MW synchronous generators and associated turbines.
Phase 4 of the PCI involves the consenting process, and the main objectives of this phase are to obtain development consent and secure a grid connection offer to integrate with the Irish transmission system. Consultant expertise is sought in the fields of design team leadership, environmental, public engagement, engineering design, geology and geotechnics, and grid connection services, which are tendered in six lots. Lot 1 is Integrated Design Team Lead. Lot 2 is EIAR, NIS and planning compliance services. Lot 3 is public participation consultant services. Lot 4 is for engineering hydropower plant design services. Lot 5 is for geology and geotechnics services, while Lot 6 is for grid connection process and supply of electricity services. Tenderers are invited to submit bids for all lots, a single lot or any combination of lots. The consultancy services are expected to be carried out between December 2023 and April 2026. Procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.etenders.gov.ie. Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via: https://www.etenders.gov.ie.
For further information, contact: Darren Quinn, Siga Hydro Limited, c/o Hourigan Rowsome, 3rd Floor, Riverfront, Howley’s Quay, Limerick V94 FY 96, Republic of Ireland; Tel.: +353 868569634; Fax: +353 61622773; E-mail: dquinn@sigahydro.com; Website: www.silvermineshydro.ie
