Thames Water has awarded five further AMP7 contracts under its PV installations and funding for solar systems framework.

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.

Successful suppliers under Lot 2 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.

The utility first 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.

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.

Anesco Ltd, ENGIE Regeneration Ltd and HBS Group Southern Ltd have been awarded contracts under Lot 1, while ENGIE Renewables Ltd and Sonne Solar Ltd have both been awarded contracts under Lot2.

In January, Thames also awarded a PV installations framework contract to EDF Energy Renewables.