Renewable energy firms invited to tender to make District Council buildings more sustainable

The works will form the pilot phase of a project looking at the decarbonisation of the Council’s existing estate as the authority strives to reach its ambitious goals of net-zero emissions and 100% clean energy use across Council functions no later than 2030, following its declaration of a Climate Emergency in July 2019.    

In addition to the installation of the PV panels, the Council is also considering the use of battery storage systems which will allow any excess electricity generated by the panels to be stored and used once the sun goes down, ensuring the benefits of generating clean energy are retained rather than fed to the grid. 

With the opportunity to invest in the local economy and a desire to minimise the overall carbon footprint of the works both key considerations, the Council is keen to look to the local market and receive bids from suppliers in the Gloucestershire and South West region. 

Councillor Rachel Coxcoon, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Forward Planning at Cotswold District Council, said: “The Council has committed to embedding climate emergency considerations across all its operations, policies and strategies. This includes how we manage our buildings which, including our leisure centres, account for about half of all the emissions produced by Council operations. 

“A lot of progress has been made in reducing the carbon footprint of these buildings already, particularly the leisure centre facilities at Cirencester and Bourton-on-the-Water which, among other changes made, are already benefitting from the installation of new air source heat pumps and solar PV panels through a project funded by a public sector decarbonisation grant.  

“This latest project looks at moving more buildings away from fossil fuels to cleaner renewable energy sources, which in addition to improving their green credentials should also reduce energy costs.”

Upon appointment of a preferred supplier, detailed costings and clarity on the payback, a decision will be taken by Full Council on whether to invest. If approved, the Council hopes the works could start in late autumn.

Companies interested in tendering for all or part of the current proposed schedule of works, or interested in receiving notifications of future opportunities, need to register on the Council’s procurement portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/publicagroup/aspx/Home

The closing date for submissions is 11 April 2023. Details of the tender can be found on the Government Contracts Finder database (ref: IT-357-479-CDC0479P): https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/399d2e14-7b91-4a5a-b165-f9b62b711264