Fichtner bids low for Bahrain renewables advisory contract

19 August 2010

Pilot facility to use both solar and wind power technology

Bahrain’s Electricity & Water Authority has opened financial bids from three firms for the contract to advise on a pilot renewable energy power plant in the kingdom.

The selected adviser will conduct a feasibility and assessment study for renewable energy technology

The authority opened commercial bids from the firms that passed the technical evaluation, which began on 12 August. The commerical bids that were opened are:

  • Mott MacDonald (UK) – BD 576,000 ($1.53m)
  • Aecom (US) – BD 1.86m
  • Fichtner (Germany) – BD 346,000

The selected adviser will conduct a feasibility and assessment study for renewable energy technology in Bahrain. It will also advise on the design, tender and project management for the pilot scheme.

A winning bidder will be selected by mid-September, says a source at the Electricity & Water Authority.

The following submitted bids that did not pass the technical evaluation:

  • Lahmeyer (Germany)
  • Atkins (UK)
  • CRA International (US)
  • ESB International (Ireland)
  • Energoprojekt (Serbia)

The project is expected to take the form of a hybrid solar and wind pilot facility for practical research and development.

A committee to study renewable energy in Bahrain was established in 2005 with the intention of collecting meteorological data. A consultation committee was formed in 2009 to initiate the development of a pilot project.

The Electricity & Water Authority has already conducted an initial study into the potential for wind and solar power in Bahrain. The survey considered the kingdom, as well as selected locations in the GCC.

 “The kingdom of Bahrain is seeking to make use of the renewable energies, particularly solar and wind,” said Bahrain’s Works Minister, Fahmi bin Ali al-Jowder, in January 2009.

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