Other sources of energy supplies and distribution

Tender description

Conwy County Borough Council seeks to appoint an Innovation Partner(s) (consultant) to take a lead role in the management of a Renewable Energy Hydro-electric Project. In 2012/13 Ynni'r Dyffryn commissioned a feasibility study to see if it would be possible to take advantage of a hydro scheme on the Afon Cwm Penamnen above Dolwyddelan. The plan is based around the development of a 165-185kW hydro-electric scheme able to generate around 470-510MWh annually. This could realise a saving of 240t CO2 per annum and through feed in tariffs (FiT) the project could achieve a revenue thereby realising a payback. The project came into difficulty with connections to the District Network Operator (DNO) and associated costs. In 2014/15 a different innovation was discussed using Smart Energy Storage Systems (SESS) and Power Scheduling Systems (PSS). Using this technology would mean providing power directly to the Dolwyddelan Community from the hydro scheme and photovoltaics (PV), in effect ‘islanding’ the Community from the National Grid (NG). Critically, this solution would take the power generated from the original hydro-electric scheme and PV, store and manage supply and distribution to the residential and commercial properties and infrastructure. The Community would remain connected to the NG in case of infrastructure malfunction, where automatic switching would ensure a continued supply of electricity. This solution would see Dolwyddelan community take ownership of its own power generation and associated assets under a suitable business model to ensure its viability and sustainability.