Hydro-electric scheme at Dyfi Furnace

Descriptions

Dyfi Furnace, located on the former site of the Silver Mills of the Mines Royal, is one of the last generation of charcoal blast furnaces to be constructed in Britain and represents the best preserved example in Wales. During the 19th century the buildings of the furnace were modified with the present day waterwheel added to provide power to a sawmill within the former bellows room of the furnace. The site is located adjacent the River Einion from where water is diverted from the crest of the Furnace Falls waterfall via a penstock through a largely covered leat to the waterwheel. The 30ft backshot wheel then discharges water back to the River Einion from the wheel pit via an underground tailrace.The works entail the provision of circa 50kW generation of electricity by harnessing the power from the waterwheel via a drive ring located on the wheel. Using existing openings within the structure the driveshaft is to transmit power via any necessary gearing to the generator located within the bellows room. From here, power is to be transmitted to the control gear located within the adjacent counterbalance room before being routed to the slaughterhouse room where a new distribution board is to be located to take advantage of the existing three phase power supply. A visual display unit will be required within the bellows room to provide a real time display of various information about the power generation scheme.The contractor is required to provide a suitable generator, ancillary equipment and permissions necessary to power the wheel and to feed the electricity back to the grid under the Feed In Tariff scheme. Due care and attention must be given to the historic and cultural significance of the Scheduled Monument, its surrounds as well as the ecological constraints associated with the site.The awarding Authority reserves the right to request parent company and/or other guarantees of performance and financial liabilityPayment terms will be indicated in the contract documents. Tenders to be priced in Sterling. Payment made in Sterling only.No special legal form required but joint and several liability assumed by all group bidders before acceptance.The Authority reserves the right to consider variant bidsThe Authority reserves the right to split the requirement into lotsThe Contract will have an option to extend the duration up to a period of a further 2 months