In its efforts to develop Mission-capable capital structures, finance approaches and governance, and in particular in the context of the Bristol City Leap and their Pilot Activity NetZero Investment Co-Innovation Lab, the City of Bristol has indicated a need to have access to advanced economic and business analysis capabilities (including governance aspects thereof) particularly in relation to linking capital design to explicit focus areas for decarbonisation, namely energy systems transitions.

Activities

This assignment aims to provide Bristol with comprehensive support in reviewing existing or draft documentation (internal and / or multi-actor) and support with co-design or advice on options and / or alternatives as relevant and appropriate and with analysis and observations in presentation form.

In parallel, the provider should conduct interactive mentoring/coaching sessions for key city staff to ask questions, brainstorm or get feedback, with preparatory and summary notes (in presentation form) agreed between the appointed party and the city also to enable key capabilities and awareness to be shared across the City team.

Finally, the provided support should include the provision of relevant specific case studies on strategy, capital structuring, ownership, and governance tailored to the needs of Bristol.

Objectives

  1. Enhanced Capacity for Decarbonisation Initiatives:
    Bristol City staff and key partners will gain advanced capabilities in economic and business analysis, particularly in the context of capital design for decarbonisation efforts in energy systems, with a focus on district energy networks and neighbourhood-scale energy communities.
  2. Improved Governance and Decision-Making:
    The city will develop stronger governance structures and decision-making processes that integrate technical expertise, process sophistication, strategy, and economic analysis. This holistic approach will support more effective and intentional decisions related to energy systems and climate action.
  3. Strengthened Collaborative Efforts:
    Enhanced collaboration between the City of Bristol, private partners like Vattenfall and Amaresco, and other stakeholders, leading to more effective implementation of projects such as the Bristol City Leap initiative.
  4. Advanced Strategy and Innovation Management:
    City staff will be better equipped with strategic and innovation management skills, allowing them to embed climate action into all aspects of municipal planning, project development, and capital planning.

Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals by 18 September 2024 to Radka Reil, CESF Manager [CESF@netzerocities.eu]. Proposals should include a detailed breakdown of costs, timelines, and relevant expertise.

This project represents a significant opportunity to contribute to Bristol’s climate neutrality goals and shape the future of its energy systems transition.