Network Rail has begun their search for a renewable energy provider in a bid to meet government demands of becoming net zero by 2050.
The train operator is one of the UK’s largest electricity procurers, using approximately 4.5TWh annually – 4.1TWh of which is used exclusively for traction.
Network Rail are looking for 0.5TWh to 1TWh of electricity per year from their new provider, as part of a contract that will span 25 years and could be worth up to £1.25bn. The energy could be contracted by more than one party with supply expected to commence in 2026.
With rail reforms set to absorb Network rail’s responsibilities into the newly formed Great British Railways, the contract is set to be with this new entity.
The decision to establish Great British Railways came of out of the Williams-Shapps plan for rail and now industry professionals are focusing on ensuring the transition runs as smoothly as possible whilst also simultaneously implementing change and driving the sector forward.
Anit Chandarana, Chief of Staff at Network Rail and Lead Director for Great British Railways, said: “We’re joining up the industry in a new way that hasn’t been done before; the sheer scale of this change is perhaps our main challenge.
“Given the scale of our task, I’m very mindful of the risk of distraction. We need to achieve change, while ensuring that the operational railway keeps performing, safely and effectively during the transition.”
Ahead of the switch from Network Rail to Great British Railways, suppliers have been put on notice, with an official tender process expected to launch in the February of next year.
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