Thames Water has awarded a contract to EDF Energy Renewables Ltd under a framework agreement which will see the installation of more solar systems at a number of its sites.
Image: floating solar panel array on London’s Queen Elizabeth II reservoir
The utility went out to tender in July 2018 with a wide-ranging photovoltaic installations contract worth up to an estimated £70 million in total as part of Thames' efforts to further reduce its reliance on electricity from the grid.
The water company was looking for a number of partners - for both EPC contractors to install solar systems and funding partners to both fund and install solar systems. Thames said it was interested in a range of systems from ground mount to roof mount to reservoir floating systems to innovative engineering structures as well as ancillaries that will help it use energy more effectively.
The contract was tendered in two separate Lots. Lot 1, which covers PV supply and installation, was primarily aimed at EPC contractors. Lot 2, which covered the funding, building and ownership of PV installations, was aimed at companies who could finance, source and install solar installations. They were also required to continue to own the installation for at least 15 years (with some earlier buyback options) through a transferable power purchase agreement and lease agreement (for the Thames Water land utilised) where Thames Water use/export all electricity generated. At the end of the term, the expectation is that installation ownership will transfer to Thames Water or the installation will be removed.
Thames has used the tender process to award a number of initial contracts under the framework agreement for specific sites, with the opportunity to enter into mini-competitions for other sites during the term of the framework agreement.
In February 2016 Thames Water installed Europe’s largest ever floating solar panel array on London’s Queen Elizabeth II reservoir.
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