Cyd Ynni - project assessment and feasibility

Descriptions

Overview of project and agreementMenter Môn will appoint a company to identify options, assess costs and practicalities associated with supplying local electricity users with locally generated and community-owned electricity. The recipient of this support will be a group of 5 community energy groups that currently work together under the name of Cyd Ynni,The organisation financing the work is Menter Môn (see below). It is a rural economic development agency, delivering the LEADER programme in Gwynedd under the name of Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig.There are three parts to the work (Lots 1 to 3 below) which are distinct, but can be tendered for together. The outcome of this work will influence decisions made by the 5 community energy groups, helping them to determine which option(s) is best pursued.Menter Môn backgroundMenter Môn was established in 1995 to deliver EU rural development programmes. It is a third sector company with a board of directors made up of the private, voluntary and community sector.It is a social enterprise with 20 years’ experience of delivering rural development projects across North Wales, including:●Lead Body for the joint Anglesey and Gwynedd FLAG Project (Fisheries Local Action Group)●Coordinated the Glastir Commons Project in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy and Ceredigion between 2013 and 2015●Delivered a range of EU funded projects in partnership with Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy and Denbigh local authorities. These included Cyfenter and Shaping the Future (both ERDF funded)In February 2015, it became the administrative body for the LEADER programme in both Anglesey and Gwynedd. The LEADER programme operates from their offices at the Town Hall in Llangefni (Anglesey), and the High Street in Porthmadog (Gwynedd).Cyd Ynni BackgroundCyd Ynni is a collaboration project between 5 community-owned renewable energy companies. The individual companies have a successful track record in terms of delivering renewable energy projects and energy-efficiency projects. There is currently an installed capacity of approximately 400kW. Each of these have plans in place to improve and expand in terms of generation capacity, reducing fuel poverty and exploring new and innovative opportunities. Over the next 3 years, the installed capacity will increase to approximately 950kW.The 5 member groups are Ynni Anafon, Ynni Ogwen, Coetir Mynydd, Moelyci and Ynni Padarn Peris, all in northern Gwynedd. The collaborative Cyd Ynni project, established in March 2018, is administered by Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig (DEG) on behalf of these community-owned companies. There are 2 members of staff working on the Cyd Ynni project, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, with the purpose of increasing the capabilities of the 5 individual groups and fostering increased collaboration and co-operation.Recent accomplishments include renewable electricity generation from a 270 kW hydro turbine at Abergwyngregyn (Ynni Anafon), a 100 kW hydro turbine at Bethesda (Ynni Ogwen), a 55 kW hydro turbine at Llanberis (Ynni Padarn Peris). The area also saw the establishment of an ‘Energy Local Club’ in Bethesda to supply local domestic properties directly from the community-owned hydro. Plans are in place for further developments including a network of electric vehicle charge points, a 200kW Solar PV installation paired with an on-farm AD plant, a 240 kW hydro, a new 100kW wind turbine, as well as exploring options regarding heat networks.Lot 1 - Afon Goch Hydro, LlanberisPrivate wire between the Afon Goch Hydro scheme (owned by Ynni Padarn Peris) and the Youth Hostel Association premises in Llanberis.Ynni Padarn Peris have installed a 55 kW hydro turbine on the Afon Goch in Llanberis (Google map coordinates = 53.116558, -4.132016), which has been operational since mid-2017. The first 10 months of operation produced 205 MW of clean electricity.Near the turbine house, and immediately adjacent to the grid connection point, is the Youth Hostel (“YHA Snowdon Llanberis”). Exploratory discussions have been conducted between Ynni Padarn Peris and the YHA, and both parties are keen to establish a direct connection, or ‘private wire’ between them if financially and technically feasible.All planning documents, including scheme layout, for this Hydro can be viewed on the local planning authority's website - https://diogel.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=C15/0801/15/LL&theTabNo=3Prior to installing the hydro scheme, a report was commissioned by Ynni Padarn Peris to explore options regarding a microgrid. The work was carried out by Redcotec in 2016, and a report was generated that included details of the microgrid design and costings. At the time, a decision was made by Ynni Padarn Peris to not proceed due to limitations in volunteer time. This report can be provided to the successful contractor upon request, and should help reduce time spent to obtain background information and understanding.Work is needed on the following areas:1.Identify the hardware required for a ‘private wire’ connection, and establish the installation costs of such hardware;2.In addition to the above, identification of metering equipment and the associated billing options;3.Finalising of a Power Purchase Agreement between both parties (template available).The deliverables from this Lot would need to include, but are not limited to, the following:A.Inventory of the required hardware for a private wire arrangement, along with approximate costs for each element;B.A written report supporting the inventory, describing the suggested set-up along with site drawings where necessary;C.An outline and justification of the best option for buying and selling electricity between Ynni Padarn Peris and the YHA;D.Final version of a Power Purchase Agreement tailored to that arrangement.Lot 2 - Afon Galedffrwd Hydro, Mynydd LlandygaiOptions appraisal and business case for the sale of electricity from the proposed 240 kWp hydro turbine. This relates to the type of connections between the generator and potential commercial/industrial customers nearby.The Afon Galedffrwd hydro is being developed by Coetir Mynydd. It will be powered by 3 x 80 kWp turbines which will all be part of a single system. The proposed location of the turbine house (Google Maps: 53.175493, -4.074089) provides several options in terms of connections. A substation is located within 250m of the turbine house for grid connection. Bradite Paint/Little Greene, a large paint factory, has already expressed an interest in purchasing directly and is situated between the turbine site and the above-mentioned substation. Two other small industrial estates are close to the turbine house and have held discussions with the community group developing the hydro scheme - some interest has been shown but no agreement in principle. Another potential option is to supply domestic properties via the Energy Local model, as there is an existing scheme in the area.This scheme will be funded by a community share offer. Construction should commence in mid/late 2019.The location of the turbine house, substation and business units is available on the attached map.This work should:1.Identify the various options available for the sale of this community-generated electricity to local customers, whether to the adjacent businesses or nearby domestic customers or both (private wires, microgrids, peer-to-peer trading and others, or a combination of them);2.Determine their respective suitability for this generator, assess likely legal requirements, set-up costs and partnerships needed, and provide a pricing structure to suit.The deliverable from this work should include:1.A written report addressing the above-mentioned issues,2.Recommendations for the most suitable model(s) including financial projections (“business case”).Lot 3 - Energy Local Club for Commercial Customers, BethesdaExplore viability of creating a commercial/industrial equivalent (or similar) of the Energy Local Club in the Bethesda area.The area of Bethesda has a successful Energy Local Club in existence, based on the model created by the Energy Local organisation. This allows domestic properties within the grid connection area to purchase their energy from a local generating source - in this case a 2 x 100 kW hydro turbines located in the area. For that scheme, the administration and billing is done by Co-operative Energy. Co-operative Energy do not supply to commercial/industrial customers. There are a number of micro, small and medium sized enterprises within the area which could potentially benefit from a supply of clean electricity.The work should assess the potential for creating a similar model for business customers and identify partnerships opportunities with electricity suppliers that may be needed to establish such a scheme.The deliverable from this work should include:1.A written report summarising the possible models and suitable suppliers, highlighting any constraints or barriers that may exist.TimelineSubmission deadline for proposals and quotes is 31st July 2018. This should include a brief project timetable, project milestones, day rate, details, experience and skills of individuals assigned to the work, anticipated travel costs.Submissions will be reviewed on August 1st 2018, with the successful contractor notified before the 3rd of August 2018.Project completion deadline is 30th September 2018.