Moyle Interconnector Limited (Moyle), a subsidiary of Mutual Energy Limited, owns and operates the Moyle Interconnector which links the electricity networks of Northern Ireland and Scotland, and facilitates the trade of electricity between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Moyle Interconnector has an installed capacity of 500 MW. This is achieved by dual monopole operation of two 250 MW, 250 kV, HVDC cable links attached to line commutated converter stations. The Moyle Interconnector physically links the HV transmission networks in Scotland and Northern Ireland and is used by System Operators on either side to support the respective operation of their high voltage transmission networks. Commercially, it facilitates trading of wholesale electricity between the respective markets which brings material economic benefit to customers in both countries.
The Moyle Interconnector is currently operating at half capacity due to a number of recurring faults in the cable system. The faults are all associated with the polyethylene layer applied to insulate the integrated return conductor within the cable build, the original cables being a novel co-axial, integrated return conductor design.
The contract involves the repair of the polyethylene layer of a subsea power cable which is part of the Moyle Interconnector. Moyle requires a marine spread proposal to facilitate the seabed repair of the North Cable of the Moyle Interconnector. The fault has been pinpointed by Moyle and is located around 2.5 km from the Scottish shore in 28 m water depth. A suitable vessel and diver spread is required to prepare the seabed around the cable for the repair, carry out the repair on the cable and reinstate the seabed. The technology (including the habitat) needed to carry out repairs has been developed by Moyle and all repair materials and repair training will be provided by Moyle.
Interested parties should note that the project for the seabed repair is business-critical and is driven by the need to complete the repair preferably before the end of October 2014. Accordingly, Moyle is intending to run the procurement process for the project using the negotiated procedure and utilising the minimum time-limits for the various stages of the procurement process as laid down in the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006. The attention of interested parties is drawn to the indicative time-table set out in the Project Information Memorandum. Only those parties who are able to demonstrate that they can abide by the timescales laid down in the indicative time-table, and who would be in a position to enter into a contract for the seabed repair by the start of August 2014, targeting completion before the end of October 2014, should respond to the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.