Soft Market testing exercise for a Cornwall 'energy company' or similar entity.

Cornwall Council is looking to explore options for the creation of an energy company or similar entity for Cornwall that will allow Cornwall to deliver local benefits derived from the increased levels of generation. This Soft Market Testing Alert Notice is an indication of potential future procurement activity and is subject to change.

This notice makes no commitment to procure anything and responding to it is not part of any pre-qualification or selection process. The energy market is changing.

Increasing numbers of independent suppliers are entering the market. Consumers, communities and local authorities across the country are also starting to have a greater influence over how energy is produced and supplied.

Over recent years Cornwall has experienced significant growth in decentralised energy generation and sees the renewable energy sector as a significant opportunity for long term economic growth. At the heart of this growth is the concept of a local energy market – a structure which permits increasing participation in the generation, supply and consumption of energy.

The Council is conducting a soft market assessment to find out more about the level of interest within the various business sectors for meeting these requirements, what solutions might be developed to meet the Council’s aspirations and on what terms. We are interested in hearing from businesses with the operational and commercial expertise to develop and potentially run an energy company or similar entity capable of meeting Cornwall’s needs.

This could, for example, be in the form of a consultancy, joint venture or arm’s length capacity type organisation. This opportunity is also being concurrently advertised within the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Please ensure you read the attached Supporting Information document before progressing to respond to the attached Questionnaire.