Official UK procurement notice
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – Torvean Quarry, Inverness
Authority: The Highland Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Highland Council has identified a site for the development of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The Highland Council has accepted a grid connection offer and intends to tender for a developer to design, build and operate the facility.
CPV: Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy · Energy and related services · Other sources of energy supplies and distribution
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1The Highland Council has identified the former Torvean Quarry (Inverness) for…
The Highland Council has identified the former Torvean Quarry (Inverness) for development of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which would support distribution network operations via connection to an existing (collocated) overhead 33kV line.
The Highland Council has accepted a grid connection offer provided by the Distribution Network Operator (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution PLC), for a 9,900 kVA import / 9,900 kW export connection, with an estimated connection date of 31 October 2027 (note that this date is subject to change).
The Highland Council intends to tender (via open competition) for a developer to design, build and operate a BESS at the former Torvean Quarry. It is envisaged that the Highland Council would assign the accepted grid connection offer to the contracted party, and that the contracted party would undertake all required contestable distribution network works, in addition to the BESS build. The Highland Council would receive a standing lease payment for occupation of the site, plus an agreed revenue share, throughout the term of the lease (20 years). An Option to Lease fee would also be payable, from contract award, until the lease period begins.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0023 Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/23/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 1 Aug 2025, 09:19 BST
- Last source update
- 1 Aug 2025, 09:19 BST
- Authority reference
HC/CPL/BES/2025- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-045028- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-056ae0Find a Tender
Publisher note: NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=801350. The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx. Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems. Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: See procurement documents (SC Ref:801350) Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=801350
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 11 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
1 Aug 2025 → 11 Sept 2025 · 2 dates- Notice published1 Aug 2025, 09:19 BST
- Submission deadline11 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Inverness Sherriff CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria