TENDER FOR THE BULK SUPPLY OF LIQUID CARBON DIOXIDE

The University has a requirement for basic food grade carbon dioxide (CO2) for a a period commencing 1st April 2022 up until 31st October 2026 to support the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR). The contract will cover the period 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2027. This project is high profile and far reaching, exploring the long term effects of elevated CO2 on forests. Based in the Staffordshire area, this project is led by the University of Birmingham and is one of only two such projects (other is in Australia) currently running in the World, exploring the real long term impact of CO2 on forest ecology and health.

The experiment consists of six arrays of towers within a woodland, each 30 m across, which extend from the ground to the top of the trees. CO2 will be released within three of these rings, while the other three will act as control plots and receive ambient air only.

CO2 is stored in 3 x 40,000kg (40 tonnes) capacity Storage Vessels under pressure as a liquid. The liquid CO2 is converted to a gas using ambient heat vaporisers and transported in pipes through the woodland to the experimental arrays. Here, it is diluted with normal air until the level reaches ~550 parts per million (ppm) before being released into the research woodland arrays. Sensors within the array are used by a computer to automatically adjust the amount and direction of released CO2 according to the speed and direction of the wind. The findings will be published as part of the argument on the long-term impacts of CO2. The facility has been in full operation since April 2016 and has been using CO2 product to deliver the experimental conditions since April 2017 to date. The University of Birmingham own and operate all the storage and delivery infrastructure related to bulk liquid CO2.

To operate the project effectively and to ensure a high level of robustness in the findings of the research a minimum quantity of 4,000 tonnes per annum (a possible maximum use of 7,250 per year) from April 2022. Thus, a total projected requirement would range from 20,000 tonnes to 36,250 tonnes from April 2022 to April 2027. Variations in volume will be determined by a variety of local environmental conditions, namely, number of daylight hours, wind speeds and ambient temperature. The average consumption of liquid CO2 has been 4,391 ± 1,866 tons per year but there are considerable month to month variations. Historically, the highest demand is in April (~900 tons) and demand drops each subsequent month until October (~600 tons) when supply to the arrays is in early November.

The delivery requirement would be most likely to be two deliveries per day from a known/reported point source. The source must also be of fossil fuel origin e.g. ammonia production. Deliveries of product will be required during the growing period lasting approximately from late-March to early-November.

The University of Birmingham is looking for suppliers to pric...

Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No