TLP wraps up initial works for turbine manufacturing plant

Tidal Lagoon Power (TLP) has completed the site investigation works for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon’s turbine manufacturing plant.

The developer behind the proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project said on social media the site investigation works and Preliminary Ecological Assessment for the turbine manufacturing plant have been completed.

The companies that participated in this phase of works include Cotswold Archaeology, LDA Design, MPEcology, ABP & WYG Group.

WYG Group, on behalf of TLP, undertook a full geo-environmental site investigation at ABP’s Swansea Docks, including boreholes, trial pits and trenches, and window sampling, gathering data to ascertain the underlying geotechnical conditions to inform the design and planning of the proposed buildings and associated infrastructure.

In addition, environmental data was gathered to determine the chemical composition of underlying ground and groundwater to inform remediation strategies to support local planning authority requirements, according to TLP.

Alongside these works, the Preliminary Ecological Assessment has been undertaken. An extended walk-over survey was carried out by two experienced ecologists to identify any ecological constraints to development.

The results of the assessment will be used to inform further discussions with City and County of Swansea Council on any issues to be scoped into the Environmental Impact Assessment.

The 100-meter long plant will be located between the Kings and Queens Dock in Swansea, and will initially employ around 100 skilled workers.

TLP said it had received three tenders for the contracts to build the turbine pre-assembly plant, adding that preferred bidders will be selected in summer.

The £22 million facility will be used for pre-assembly of the sixteen turbines required by the ‘pathfinder’ Swansea tidal lagoon.