Solihull Town Centre Low Carbon Energy Network

The Council wishes to procure a contractor to design, build, operate (including metering and billing) and maintain a low carbon energy network in Solihull town centre for the supply of heat and electricity to both the Council and a number of public and private sector customers. Following the selection of the preferred bidder and approval of the Full Business Case the Council will establish a wholly owned special purpose vehicle which enter into and manage the awarded contract and own the network. The scheme will be delivered in a number of phases. Phase 1 is for the town centre low carbon energy network which has a delivered heat supply of 14 gigawatt hours and electricity supply of 6.1 gigawatt hours per annum. It is anticipated that Phase 2 and future new masterplan developments will have a total estimated heat supply of 50 gigawatt hours and 6.6 gigawatt hours of electricity per annum. The contractor shall be responsible for the purchase of any utilities required to operate the low carbon energy network. Funding for Phase 1 of the project will be provided through a mixture of public sector funding sources. Other sources of funding including funding or investment by the appointed contractor may be utilised for further phases of the project at the discretion of the Council. This procurement is undertaken by the Council on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and affiliates and also the potential customers of the low carbon energy network for the supply of heat and electricity. The customers for Phase 1 of the network include the Council, Alderbrook School (Academy), Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull College and University Centre, Ministry of Justice/Home Office and a number of private sector connections (Phase 1 Customers). The Phase 1 Customers have identified specific energy needs and, in particular, given their technical requirements for low carbon energy and geographical location propose to be part of the project to allow these needs to be met. Customers for future phases of the project are likely to include a mixture of public and private sector entities in the Solihull town centre area and will be subject to further development as the project progresses. Customers may include West Midlands Police, Solihull Hospital, St Alphege Junior School, St Peter's Catholic School, St Augustine's Catholic Primary School and Council owned homes/flats. The customers will enter into connection and supply agreements with the special purpose vehicle as part of this project. The appointed contractor will be required to maintain and operate the low carbon energy network for a period of 15 years from completion of the energy centre and network works. The works period will immediately precede the commencement the services period. The contract shall include an option for the contract to to be extended by a period of a further 10 years. Additional information: No Award - Contract Notice republished