The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has launched market engagement ahead of what is set to be one of the most ambitious renewable energy procurement exercises in UK local government: a Solar Partnership framework valued at £780,000,000 including VAT over five years.
The WMCA is not simply looking for solar installers. It is seeking organisations that can lead, finance, and take commercial responsibility for large-scale solar delivery, in partnership with the Combined Authority and its constituent organisations. If your business has the appetite and capacity to invest in, develop, or deliver solar programmes at genuine scale, this is a pre-procurement engagement worth taking seriously.
If you're considering getting involved, contact Thornton & Lowe for an initial assessment. You can also visit our energy and environmental tenders page to see how we support businesses bidding in this sector.
What Is the WMCA Looking For?
The WMCA has been clear that this programme is not principally about supply chain or installation services; it is about strategic partnership. The Authority wants organisations that can:
- Lead or co-lead large-scale solar delivery programmes
- Provide or secure commercial financing for solar infrastructure
- Take on end-to-end delivery responsibility, not just component parts
- Work across a multi-authority, multi-site landscape in one of the UK's most populous metropolitan regions
Installation businesses and supply chain specialists are encouraged to contribute to the market engagement, but the WMCA has indicated that the primary framework partners will need to bring leadership, investment capacity, and commercial accountability alongside delivery capability.
Why This Engagement Matters Now
This is pre-procurement market engagement. There is no live tender to respond to yet, but the input received at this stage will directly shape the framework's structure, including how it is lotted, what delivery models are supported, and what financial and technical thresholds are set. Organisations that engage substantively now are better positioned when the formal competition launches.
At £780 million over five years, this is not a procurement to overlook and return to. The engagement window is short: the deadline is 20 May 2026.
Key Details at a Glance
- Buyer: West Midlands Combined Authority
- Estimated value: £780,000,000 including VAT
- Framework length: 5 years
- Current stage: Market engagement (not a live tender)
- Engagement deadline: 20 May 2026
- Find a Tender notice: View the official notice here
Tips for Organisations Engaging at This Stage
- Be specific about your role: When submitting your engagement response, be clear about whether you are a delivery partner, an investor, a developer, or a combination. Vague expressions of interest will carry little weight.
- Demonstrate at-scale credentials: Reference comparable programmes where you have provided leadership or investment in large solar or renewable energy projects, ideally in a public sector or multi-authority context.
- Align with WMCA's wider objectives: The Combined Authority has a strong net zero and regional growth agenda. Frame your engagement response around how your model contributes to these goals, not just delivery capability.
- Plan ahead for the formal tender: Use this engagement phase to identify the lot structure and delivery model that best suits your organisation, so you are ready to move quickly when the competition launches.
Review the full notice before submitting. With a value of £780 million and the potential to shape regional renewable infrastructure for years to come, this is a defining opportunity for organisations with genuine solar leadership capability.
If you want support developing your engagement response or preparing for the eventual formal bid, get in touch with Thornton & Lowe for a frank, expert assessment of your positioning.
