FUTURE ENERGY TRIAL – ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Tender description

This PIN establishes the requirement to trial other fuel sources for automotive use and remain consistent with the wider Departmental Climate Change and Sustainability (CC&S) drivers. There is a global commitment to transition away from fossil fuels in order to achieve both national and international sustainability commitments. This MOD trial is in support of the UK governments 2050 Net Zero Strategy. This project looks to trial an alternative Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) charging capability for UK Defence sites for which it would be prohibitively difficult or expensive to provide a national grid vehicle charging capability. The findings from this trial will support the Sustainable Road Transport (SRT) team to mitigate operational risk to Authority sites that cannot easily upgrade to three-phase BEV charging infrastructure. For information, this competition will be run via the CCS HELGA Framework: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM3824 Lot 1: The UK MOD wishes to increase the capability of the future cars and van white fleet through a trial of innovative energy sources using renewable fuelled BEV chargers at various UK locations. The installed equipment, logistic support for the trial and any potential follow-on activity will be an experiment to gain experience of the use of such technology and inform any follow-on associated MT activity. The chargers of the type must use renewal fuel sources and fast charge power outlet standards The trial should enable: a. Trial hydrogen/ammonia/methanol as fuel source for electricity generation. b. Handling of fuels. Use of hydrogen based fuel as a green fuel. Maintenance and training to be given on equipment as required. c. In addition to the trial, the supplier will be required to provide suitable open access software to allow the monitoring of the remote stations for user support purposes and for diagnostic purposes. d. There is no requirement to supply Government Furnished Assets under this contract. The outcomes of the trial will be: a. Conclude if it offers capability options for MOD to deliver the aims of the next white fleet contract due in be let by 2024 or 2026 depending on existing contract extension. b. Handling and sourcing of renewable fuels. Provide an assessment of the use of the fuel as a green fuel, to understand the availability of it or the next best ‘green’ option. This assessment would also include future renewable sources. c. Demonstrate that it reduces the reliance on the at-risk electrical infrastructure on the MOD estate while maintaining or increasing the capability and availability of an asset. d. References and is consistent with HM Government, other Government Departments and MOD strategies where appropriate. The Authority seeks to increase the capability of the MOD BEV white fleet through a trial of innovative energy sources using renewable fuelled BEV chargers at up to 3 Defence sites (planned to be RAF Cranwell, Portsmouth Dockyard, and another location potentially in London). This may revert to two sites depending on cost and site selection, which will be confirmed by Contract Commencement. The purpose of the trial is to gather learning on the use of the alternative electrical charging equipment to assess whether this presents a viable longer-term solution. The chargers used for the trial should use a renewable fuel source and provide three-phase charging speeds. Additional information: Delivery timescales will be finalised during development of the competition pack and SoR. The following is the initial indication of the expected timescale for the delivery of the required output. a. Initial findings (end of Phase 1) by 4 weeks from date of delivery of equipment. b. Final Report by 6 months from the date of delivery of the equipment.