Provision of Post Consent Advisory Services: Renewable Energy Projects

Tender description

Orkney Islands Council has a requirement for expert financial/commercial, technical, and legal advisers in relation to the potential development of three wind farm sites comprising Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project from consent towards construction. Work will include providing advice on a potential Private Wire Network. Workload and timing will be dependent on the progression of each project through consenting and internal approval processes. It is expected that there will be a high degree of homology or economies in work related to each site comprising Orkney’s Community Wind farm Project. Lot 1: Financial/Commercial Advice Financial/commercial advice can be split into; financial modelling, Submission of bids for Contracts for Difference auction, Provision of advice on the most appropriate business structure from which to develop projects, and General financial/commercial advice. - Financial modelling - Submission of bid for Contracts for Difference - Provision of advice on the most appropriate business structure from which to develop projects Lot 2: Provision of Legal Advice Legal input is required to feed into commercial considerations outlined in Lot 1 above, and in particular to provide collaborative advice on; - The recommended structure of the wind farm projects, to include drafting constitutional documents and formation of an SPV where necessary; - Advising on governance matters connected with the chosen project structure; - The CfD application process and overall risks, including assisting with preparation of the necessary application documentation and reviewing the terms and conditions; - Assistance with due diligence with a view to securing finance; - Assistance with finalising leases with the relevant landowner, and general property-related matters. Lot 3: Technical Advice Technical advice required is split into general, special-- General technical advice General advice on technical elements of the proposed projects which may include validation of indicative plans and advice around the various processes that are required to develop, build out, and ultimately operate a wind farm and private wire. This may take the form of preparation of briefing notes for Council Officers or Elected Members or providing advice to the project team via email correspondence, meetings or seminars, depending on the complexity. The consultant may be required to attend and participate in public consultation events as appropriate as expert advisers. - Specialist technical advice Assistance with and advice on grid connection applications to include appropriate timings, routes, capacities, technical details and risks, along with completion and submission of relevant applications. Assist and advise in assessment of potential project enhancements to include; - Appropriateness and merits of combining a Private Wire Network Project in Kirkwall to Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project- Quanterness (if consented). - Potential for addition of alternative technologies to the project to improve the business case, such as battery, hydrogen, other storage, complementary generation or smart grid technologies. - Provision of technical input as required by Ofgem in determining whether the Needs Case for a new transmission connection has been met. Additionally there will be a requirement to undertake any other technical advice as deemed appropriate and within the expertise of the consultant. The consultant will be required to liaise with the providers of Lot 1 and Lot 2 services to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach. - Procurement technical advice Assist in procurement of further advisers and contractors required to reach final investment decision and to proceed to construction of the projects. This will include but is not limited to developing scopes of work, indicative budgets, and participating in procurement panels. The consultant/consortium will not be required to take a lead role at any stage of procurement. Key procurement exercises are expected to include (but are not limited to) - Procurement of geotechnical site investigation - Appointment of an Owners Engineer. The successful consultant for this Lot will be excluded from bidding to undertake any of the works above and would be expected to aid in review, management and ongoing advice related to the procured works or studies.