Network Rail has begun a market engagement exercise with a view to installing rooftop solar PV on its buildings in Scotland.
Network Rail operates, maintains and develops Britain’s rail infrastructure. It is one of the UK’s largest purchasers of electricity, currently purchasing around 4.4TWh/yr, of which 3.95TWh is used in traction and 0.45TWh is other uses.
As a government owned enterprise, Network Rail has committed to fully decarbonise its non-traction consumption by 2030. It wants to engage with the potential renewable energy developers to build a portfolio of solar PV across its estate in Scotland.
The developer will be expected to survey, fund, construct, own, operate and maintain the solar PV on the selected rooftops. Network Rail will grant leases to the developer for the sites and will buy the electricity produced via power purchase agreements for the useful life of the solar PVs (25 years). The developer will be granted and exclusive development term subject to achieving agreed milestones.
The market engagement exercise is expected to end on 8 March and a procurement is expected to launch in April 2023. Interested parties should contact Network Rail through its Bravo portal.