GMCA1677 Wigan CFAS Solar PV And Optional Battery Storage

Greater Manchester Combined Authority declared a climate change emergency in 2019 and continues to progress towards the ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038. A key element in achieving this ambition is to continue investing in renewable technologies to reduce reliance on grid electricity and generating electricity from renewable sources.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been successful in securing grant funding from Great British Energy via the Mayoral Renewables Fund to deliver a solar photovoltaic (PV) system and an optional addition of a battery storage system at Wigan Community Fire and Ambulance Station. The bid was developed from findings from a low carbon feasibility survey covering whole building decarbonisation for the site which identified that the building may benefit from the installation of an additional solar PV system to the existing solar PV system and the integration of a battery storage system.

The project is expected to be delivered in a staged manner. The project has a feasibility survey completed but the first stage of the project will require a roof condition survey and a structural assessment to be completed (stage 1) in order to ensure the roof has sufficient integrity to hold the solar PV system. Upon completion of the surveys and receipt of the reports, Greater Manchester Combined Authority shall confirm whether the project is to progress to the next stage (stage 2). Stage 2 will focus upon the full design of the solar PV system plus the design of an optional addition of an integrated battery storage system along with the identification of a relevant supply chain. Upon receipt of the design documents at the end of stage 2, Greater Manchester Combined Authority will make a decision on whether the project shall proceed to stage 3 which shall be the installation and commissioning of the system. For clarity, Greater Manchester Combined Authority may take the ecision to not proceed from design stage to install but may also take the decision whether to proceed with either the additional solar PV system only or the additional solar PV system and the optional addition of the battery storage system.

The solar PV and optional addition of a battery storage system at Wigan Community Fire and Ambulance Station is expected to be delivered under a Design and Build Contract (JCT Contracted Design arrangement) and will require the successful bidder to undertake the design (including all related survey activity), supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a roof mounted solar PV system and, if Greater Manchester Combined Authority decide to progress, an externally located battery storage system (optional addition).

The project is funded by Great British Energy via the Mayoral Renewables Fund and a key grant funding criteria is that the scheme must be fully completed by 31st March 2026.

This further competition was a call off via the NHS SBS Decarbonisation of Estates Framework (Reference: SBS10504).