Welsh business finds work at Morlais tidal power scheme

Business Developments & Projects

September 28, 2022, by Amir Garanovic

An Anglesey construction firm OBR Construction has been awarded a €2.24 million contract by Morlais main contractor to build the structures associated with the landfall substation for the Holy Island tidal energy scheme.

Morlais Demonstration Zone (Courtesy of Welsh Government)

The contract to OBR Construction has been awarded by Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, which secured €28.5 million contract to build onshore infrastructure for the Morlais project back in Mach 2022.

Andy Billcliff, chief executive officer at Morlais, said: “This is more good news for the local economy with Morlais providing further jobs and opportunities on Anglesey.

“The appointment of OBR to build the structures for the substation means we can continue to safeguard employment on the island as well as create new training opportunities for young people. It was crucial for us at Morlais to secure these contracts locally and we feel that we are delivering on that front.”

Rhys Parry Jones, managing director of OBR Construction, added: “We are delighted to be working with Morlais and Jones Bros to deliver this part of the project. We are looking forward to working with the team on this pioneering low carbon energy project.

“As a direct consequence of being awarded this contract, we have already taken on two new apprentices, and are looking forward to further developing and expanding our team in the region.”

The Morlais project manages a 35 km2 area of seabed off the coast of Holy Island, Anglesey and has the potential to put Ynys Môn on the map in terms of tidal stream energy. Menter Môn is managing the project, and it is the first project of this scale and type to be managed by social enterprise

With onshore construction already underway, it is anticipated that work in the sea will begin in 2023 and that the first turbines will generate electricity in 2024.

Morlais is funded by the European Regional Development, through the Welsh Government, for the first phase of construction work. The Isle of Anglesey County Council, North Wales Growth Deal, as well as The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have also supported the project.