Enterprising companies requested to tender for construction and operation of Oldham Council’s upcoming solar energy site
Oldham Council is calling upon businesses to bid for a £1.2 million contract to construct and manage the council’s new solar farm in Wrigley Head, Failsworth. This solar farm is a vital component of the council’s Green New Deal, which aims to make all council buildings carbon neutral by 2025 and the entire borough by 2030.
Councillor Abdul Jabbar MBE, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources, expressed his enthusiasm for this project, highlighting the opportunity for green technology businesses to participate in a pioneering initiative in Greater Manchester. The solar farm is expected to generate enough green energy to power approximately 750 homes and will repurpose previously derelict land, benefiting the environment and biodiversity.
Oldham Council is leading the way in adopting green initiatives and aims to become the greenest borough in Greater Manchester. The solar farm will be the first subsidy-free solar farm owned by a local authority in Greater Manchester, marking a significant milestone in the council’s sustainability efforts.
Construction of the solar farm is set to commence in September, with the chosen contractor responsible for enhancing the design of the solar PV array and overseeing its construction, operation, and maintenance for up to 20 years. Interested parties can access the tender documents on the council’s procurement portal, The Chest, at www.the-chest.org.uk.
Additionally, Oldham Council has secured £8.7 million in grant funding to support the development of a low carbon district heat network in Oldham Town Centre. This innovative system will utilize local sources of eco-friendly heat, such as air, wastewater, minewater, and biomass, to provide heating to various buildings without the need for individual boilers or electric heaters.
