Private Wire Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA Framework)

Following a RFI and subsequent tender, SWS established a Framework panel of Private Wire Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) providers to work in partnership with SWS, to explore and develop onsite and offsite third party funded solar renewables.

The awarded companies will engage constructively with other SWS partners to yield the commercial optimal outcome for SWS.

Southern Water is committed to reducing our energy costs, whilst increasing the amount of renewable generation on our sites. This aligns with Southern Waters environmental commitments and the English Water Sectors strategy to become Net Carbon Zero by 2030.

Energy costs are one of SWS largest Opex costs, and the business is believed to have more than 6000 acres of land which SWS would like to utilise in order to reduce Opex costs and meet carbon and renewable targets.

The scope includes:

• Partnering SWS to undertake desktop assessments of private wire solar PPA opportunities to supply SWS sites and optimise the commercial returns for SWS (including SWS renewable targets).
• Conducting all feasibility work in order to progress solar opportunities and securing 3rd party funding.
• Ground Mount, Roof Mount and Floating solar arrays are all in scope.
• Exploring opportunities to utilise 3rd party land near SWS sites for private wire solar PPA, where SWS land is not appropriate, is within the scope of this tender.
• Conducting feasibility work regarding utilising battery storage and other associated services to complement the solar array.
• Securing funding for any battery developments and other associated services.
• Building the solar arrays & associated services
• Maintaining the solar arrays and associated services for the lifetime of the developments
• Asset end of life clean-up work. Additional information: Three successful bidders make up the panel of Framework Providers. These providers will participate on opportunities to enter into PPAs with SWS via mini-competition tenders during the term of the Framework.

These mini-competitions will be in the form of lots of SWS sites and potential 3rd Party Land where applicable.