Scope
Reference
DN800828
Description
The London Borough of Camden (LBC) is proposing to develop a prototype solution to install rooftop solar PV generation and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to generate, store and optimise power usage at properties. The solution will develop a billing platform to provide residents with discounted energy bills and paying back the investor. The billing platform, payback mechanism and associated legal and financing structures are bespoke to the prototype. It is envisaged that the project will comprise an Energy Services Agreement (ESA) with a Special Purpose Vehicle (ESCo) and a number of supporting and ancillary contractual arrangements for the development of the prototype solution (including initial appointments for development services prior to entering into the ESA and other main project documents).
Contract 1. Solar PV & Battery Retrofit at Scale (RaS) Project
Suppliers (2)
Contract value
- £110,000,000 excluding VAT
- £110,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
1 April 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 April 2026 to 3 April 2056
- 30 years, 2 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 09300000 - Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 71314000 - Energy and related services
- 66000000 - Financial and insurance services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Not Applicable
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Prototypes and development
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
The relevant justifications are paragraph 2 (Prototypes and development) and paragraph 5 (single suppliers) of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Paragraph 2 of Schedule 5 (Prototypes and development): The project is being developed by LBC as a prototype to test the suitability of a retrofit solution to provide more affordable and more sustainable homes for its residents. It is being developed with L&G, supported by a specialist energy services platform provided by Sero. The prototype seeks to test the suitability and viability of an off-balance sheet, project finance structure (ESCo) that will provide the funding, installation, maintenance and operation of Energy-as-a-Service assets (Solar PV and BESS) onto residential properties owned by LBC for 30 year period. The project is unprecedented in both its offering and scale and duration. Approximately 3,000 homes are within scope, representing approximately 9% of LBC’s housing stock. This is a prototype which is part of a wider programme of piloting different routes to decarbonisation. It involves the development of novel goods and services at the request of LBC as a trial for an even larger investment at some point in the future, which it is envisaged can be made subject to a competitive procurement.
Paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 (single suppliers): the project is being developed by LBC together with a partnership between L&G and Sero who have developed know-how and other intellectual property rights relevant to the prototype solution LBC wishes to develop. LBC is not aware of any reasonable alternatives that would allow for a competitive procurement of the proposed prototype.
Suppliers
LEGAL AND GENERAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY LIMITED
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYZB-8516-VDNT
One Coleman Street
London
EC2R 5AA
United Kingdom
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Solar PV & Battery Retrofit at Scale (RaS) Project
Sero Life Limited
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZPT-2558-ZZDH
Westgate House, Womanby Street
Cardiff
CF10 1BR
United Kingdom
Email: jayesh@sero.life
Region: UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Solar PV & Battery Retrofit at Scale (RaS) Project
Contracting authority
London Borough of Camden
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZXL-5842-VBBG
London Borough of Camden
London
N1C 4AG
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@camden.gov.uk
Website: http://www.camden.gov.uk
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government