Desitgn Build Install and Maintenance Contract for Halton Microgrid Incorporating Solar Farm Battery Storage EV Charging and HV Distribution

The Halton Borough Council in United Kingdom from Europe region had released this tender for Halton Borough Council HBC is a Unitary Authority based in Cheshire North West England comprising the main towns of Runcorn and Widnes The Council declared a Climate Emergency on the 16th October 2019 Following the declaration the Council developed an Action Plan which is predominantly focused on reducing the Council s own carbon production The Council has developed a number of rooftop solar PV schemes and a 1 2MWp solar farm Whilst these projects have been invaluable it became apparent to the Council that larger interventions would also be required in order to meet the Council s 2040 net zero target With this in mind the Council commissioned a feasibility study in early 2020 to evaluate the potential to construct a solar farm on Council owned wasteland The study concluded that the potential existed to construct a 3 62MWp solar farm on a closed landfill site located immediately north of Ditton Rd in Widnes postcode WA8 0PG Coordinates E 350056 N 385004 The site was historically used as a chemical waste landfill site before being converted to a municipal golf course St Michael s Golf Course The course was subsequently closed and the site has been unused since The Council are now planning to construct a 3 62MWp solar farm at the closed landfill site which will be connected to the existing 1 2MWp solar farm via a new 11kV link The resulting 5 2MWp of solar PV generation will provide power to a number of council owned facilities in Widnes town via an extensive 11kV ring main which is to be installed as part of the project The scheme will also incorporate a 2MW 4MWh battery storage scheme and a high-power electric vehicle charging hub at the Council s Lower House Lane transport depot On 1st June 2021 the Council secured a 6 1MVA export and 5 0MVA import grid connection offer from the local DNO SP Energy Networks On 27th June 2024 the Council submitted a planning application for the project and the application was approved on 23rd January 2025 During 2024 the Council has negotiated the necessary agreements to obtain construction access to the site The Council own the land on which the scheme is to be built all of the buildings and will own the Microgrid once it is commissioned and handed over The Council are now seeking EPC Engineer Procure and Construct proposals for the turn-key detailed design installation and commissioning of the Smart Microgrid Project which will encompass the following key components a A 3 62MWp solar farm including all associated building and civil engineering works b An 11kV link between the existing 1 2MWp solar farm and the new 3 62MWp solar farm c A 2MW 4MWh battery storage system at the new solar farm site d An 11kV link from the new solar farm substation to a new Intake Substation located at the Council s Lower House Lane depot including an associated horizontal drill under a major A Road e A new 33kV 11kV Intake Substation ISS at the Council s Lower House Lane Depot f New 11kV distribution substation infrastructure at four Council sites Halton Stadium Halton Leisure Centre Municipal Offices and Lower House Lane Transport Depot g A buried HV ring connecting the new Intake Substation ISS with the four distribution substations h High power EV and eRCV charging infrastructure at the Lower House Lane transport depot i A SCADA control system to enable the efficient and optimal management of the completed microgrid system and the associated generation and storage assets The Tenderer s scope will include all works required to deliver a fully compliant safe efficient and working installation Following completion of the construction works The EPC Tenderer shall be responsible for providing EPC warranty and O amp M Operations and Maintenance services for a minimum period of two years with an option for a three year contract extension with 5 available extensions The estimated budget for the Design and Build is 11 million Estimated budget for the 30 year operation and maintenance of the Microgrid is 2 million The project will be funded by the Council through prudential borrowing and grant funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority with tender notice no. DN797010 published on 23 Dec 2025. The tender expired on 20 Feb 2026. This tender is sourced from Pro Contract and is eligible for suppliers interested in Solar photovoltaic modules. Interested bidders can obtain further information including complete bid documents or ways to participate by registering on Tender Impulse and referencing via Tender Impulse ID 10744199.