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Background

QED Naval is inviting tenderers to participate in an exciting opportunity to be a strategic partner in developing QED next generation Subhub ID tidal platform. This partnership is key to unlocking the potential of a rapidly growing global $76Bn tidal market and making a significant contribution to net zero carbon targets.

QED have already built and operated its Subhub tidal platform at sea since 2018, and has proven its installation, retrieval capabilities and O&M strategy. Its enhanced performance characteristics have been well-proven as part of the EU Interreg TIGER project. QEDs partnership in Tocardo tidal turbines has been in operations within the Dutch tidal barriers and sluice gates building up tens of thousands of operating hours over the last decade and most notably in the Oosterschelder Tidal Project (OTP) since 2016 which has generated over 3.3GWhrs.

QED is issuing this initial ITP with an outline scope of work in order to identify a selected list of prospective tenderers.

Artist impression of QED next generation technology Subhub-ID tidal platform with three Tocardo T2-SI turbines used in early stage arrays.

Scope of work

Development of Subhub ID Demonstrator

To allow for flexibility in approach, QED will consider tender responses in the following Lots:

  •      Lot 1:  Mainhull Cofferdam Fabrication – Cofferdam is the structural node that acts as the main interface connecting all the mainhull parts of the Subhub device. It also provides the compartment for storing bulk ballast. Structurally it can be described as a large-scale panel line fabrication.
  •      Lot 2:  Buoyancy Tanks– Buoyancy tanks, as the name implies, provide the buoyancy required for the Subhub device to safely carry out transit, dive (installation) and operational activities. A minimum of 12 buoyancy tanks are required per Subhub.
  •      Lot 3:  Tower Sections – The main purpose of the tower section is to support the Subsea Power Control Units (SPCUs) which enable access to these compartments when the Subhub is retrieved to the surface.
  •      Lot 4:  Subsea Power Control Unit – SPCU is a pressure vessel structure that provides a watertight environment for the Power Take Off (PTO) equipment for the turbines and Subhub Platform Management Systems (SPMS).

Project Pipeline

QED’s project pipeline is prioritising its Morlais deployment in North Wales as part of the CFD AR5 where they submitted an initial application in March this year. As part of this project, QED will build an initial demonstration unit by July 2024 followed by another 11 units to be constructed by Dec 2025.

QED also have potential markets on the South Coast of England as well as in Scotland entailing another 2 early-stage tidal arrays using Subhub-ID industrial scale units.

QEDs vision is to deploy over 120MW of their tidal technology by 2030 (circa £400m supply chain with large proportions of that GVA going into the UK economy).

Strategic Partnerships

Using the QED & Tocardo tender above we hope to develop long-term strategic partnerships with the supply chain offering gain-share / equity agreements based on volumes and project delivery. The partnership is expected to deliver a cost-reduction pathway benefiting from learning, efficiency gains and economies of scale. Furthermore, a development path for developing our utility-scale tidal technology (Multi-MW platforms and 1MW turbine) to further reduce costs of energy is required. This final development step will enable the partnership to compete on cost with other forms of marine renewables, namely, offshore wind.

Timetable

This timetable is indicative only.  QED Naval reserves the right to change it at its discretion.

Stage  Target Date/Time
Deadline for submission of questions 72 hours prior to the tender deadline.
Deadline for submission of completed ITT documentation 12:00:00 on Friday 23rd June 2023

If you wish to apply or have any questions, please email us at tenders@qednaval.co.uk for signing NDA and use the tender title above as the subject line. 

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