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Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement
University of Essex · Education
In brief
University of Essex has announced plans to buy architecture and engineering and energy work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.
The estimated value is £108,330,000 excluding VAT.
The contract runs for 30 years, starting 1 April 2027.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Competition
Usually high: a median of 8 bids per contract for architecture and engineering contracts in this region (from 230 awards in the last 12 months).
What the notice says
The University aims to increase the proportion of renewable electricity at its Colchester campus, reduce spend on utilities and carbon emissions from energy. It wishes to do this through a Design, Build, Fund, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) model and Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). There are potential opportunities to deliver these aims via a number of different routes, including;
1. Renewable electricity generated via a large-scale PV Solar Farm (potentially to include BESS and wind).
2. Low carbon heat supplied through a heat network and energy centre.
3. Renewable electricity generated via on campus PV Solar installed on building roofs.
4. Renewable electricity generated via PV Solar Car Ports on University car parks.
Prior to going to tender, through this Premarket Engagement exercise, the University wishes to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges, optimal PPA structures, pricing mechanisms, contract approaches, durations to balance affordability, risk, and flexibility. It welcomes commentary on the key risks, constraints, and enablers associated with delivering the proposed projects.
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How to bid
- Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
- Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Timeline
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 045224-2026
About the buyer
University of EssexLast 12 months
Procurements
11Awards
8Similar open tenders
All open architecture and engineering tenders- £40kestimated
- £1.7mestimated
- Value not stated
- £9.17mestimated
- £150kestimated
From notice 045224-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 18 May 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.