Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) Demonstrator Plant

What the buyer is asking for

Energy Coast West Cumbria Limited, trading as BEC, invites tenders for the design, manufacture and supply of a factory-integrated, modular Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) demonstrator plant for the BEST CAES project at Westlakes Science Park, West Cumbria. The requirement comprises an above-ground, transportable system incorporating compression, thermal storage, expansion equipment, compressed-air storage vessels, power electronics and controls, together with specified testing, documentation, training and warranty support. Required performance includes 0.333 MW charging, 1.0 MW discharge and a minimum electrical round-trip efficiency of 80%. The maximum contract budget is £1,600,000 excluding VAT, with operational handover required by 30 June 2028. Long-term paid maintenance and supplementary rapid-response hardware are excluded from this award. The procurement will follow an open procedure and is subject to funding, planning permissions and necessary approvals.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 30%quality1. Technical solution and performanceIntegrated design, energy efficiency, capacity, response, controls, thermal management and scalability, supported by relevant calculations and test evidence. State assumptions and deviations.
• 15%quality2. Delivery, installation and commissioningAchievable programme to handover by 30 June 2028, covering manufacturing, logistics, site interfaces, testing, dependencies and delay mitigation.
• 10%quality3. Technical assurance and risk managementDesign verification, validation, safety/conformity evidence and project-specific technical risk controls. Assess assurance arrangements, not performance already scored under criterion 1 or supplier eligibility.
• 10%quality4. Operation, maintenance and through-life supportMaintenance planning, warranty support, spares, training, documentation, remote-support access and life cycle replacement evidence. Assess support and base deliverables, not monetary prices or non-awarded future service promises.
• 5%quality5. Project management and governanceContract-specific responsibilities, reporting, quality records, escalation, change control and coordination with BEC and other contractors.
• 30%price6. Total priceEvaluated Price E: fixed delivered base scope under section 3.5, excluding VAT, including supplier commissioning, testing, training, licences and issued warranty obligations. Informational long-term service/rapid-response prices are excluded from award and price evaluation.

What you must already have

Conditions of participation. These are pass or fail, so check them before writing anything.

• economic

  Suppliers must have the legal capacity to enter into and perform the Contract and demonstrate sufficient financial standing and working capital to deliver its requirements. These conditions will be assessed on a pass/fail basis using the evidence requirements and methodology set out in the tender documents, proportionate to the nature, complexity and value of the Contract. Audited accounts are not required; unaudited accounts or other appropriate financial evidence will be accepted. Suppliers must confirm that, if awarded the Contract, they will obtain and maintain the following insurance in accordance with the contractual requirements: Public liability insurance: at least £10 million for any one occurrence. Professional indemnity insurance: at least £10 million for each claim. These insurance policies do not need to be in place before contract award.

• technical

  Suppliers must demonstrate technical ability to design, integrate and commission comparable equipment through relevant projects or test evidence, named delivery resources and committed subcontractor support. Consortia and equivalent evidence are accepted; identical project experience and a minimum trading history are not required. Assessment is pass/fail, as detailed in section 4.1 of the Invitation to Tender.

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 25 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published3 days ago

   4 Nov 2026, 08:15 GMT
2. Clarification questions byin 19 days

   25 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 33 days

   9 Dec 2026, 12:00 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 46 days

   22 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender

1. Tender notice4 Nov 2026, 08:15 GMT104461-2026

Documents

• Tender documentation for the procurement of an integrated Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Demonstrator Plant, including the technical, commercial, contractual and tender submission requirements.
• Tender notice on Find a Tender