DeltaStream Prototype - Design and Supply of Turbine Blades

Descriptions

TEL is a privately owned technology development company exclusively developing an innovative tidal stream generator, known as DeltaStream. TEL has identified a demonstration test site at Ramsey Sound, Pembrokeshire and is in the process of obtaining the necessary consent licences to install a prototype DeltaStream device in 2011 for a 12 month test period. TEL wishes to appoint a contractor for the design, manufacture and supply of the turbine blades forming part of the prototype DeltaStream device. The sea trials of the device will be carried out in 2 stages. The initial installation will have turbines with swept area diameter of 12m, to be upgraded to a fully-rated 15m diameter (on the same structure) at the midpoint of the trial programme. This contract will therefore require the supply of 9 off turbine blades for both the 12m and 15m turbines. It is expected that the tooling for both sets of blades shall be the same, the 12m version simply being formed as a ‘cut-off’ of the 15m full-scale turbine. TEL will provide the blade geometry and loads. The contractor’s scope of work will include the design and manufacture of the blades, noting that special attention will be required in the root design and installation method for mounting the blades to the hub. TEL does not wish to discretely specify the material(s) to be used in the blade manufacture at this stage in the procurement, and would welcome responses to this PQQ from companies with established pedigree in the manufacture of blades from composite materials, or from cast and fabricated metal based structures.