NetZeroCities / Climate-KIC, through the City Expert Support Facility, are requesting a quotation for expert support to Wrocław municipality for preparation of a concept study for an energy cluster. The assignment is split into two parts, with part of Task 1 carrying significance for other Polish cities planning to implement energy clusters and Task 2 focusing on the concept development of an energy cluster in Wrocław.
Objectives
The municipality of Wrocław plans to implement the concept of an energy cluster, the aim of which is to create a local, sustainable structure for the generation, consumption, storage and distribution of energy among the cluster’s members. The concept should take into account the use of renewable energy sources (RES), improvement of energy efficiency and limiting the environmental impact. As for now, the key interested members of the cluster are public universities, including the Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the University of Wrocław, as well as the Wrocław Municipality and the energy company Kogeneracja S.A.
The key need within this analysis is to determine the role and responsibilities of individual cluster members, its organizational and financial structure and sources of financing. The goal is also to determine the possible need to include additional entities (e.g. Distribution System Operator (DSO) or other municipalities) in the cluster that are necessary for its proper functioning in the light of the legal regulations in Poland. The survey will help assess the readiness, resources, infrastructure and investment plans regarding energy savings, production and distribution, divided into cluster members as potential producers or consumers of energy. Potential cluster members could also include other municipalities, municipal entities, and other public or private entities.
The proposed concept stems directly from Wrocław’s Climate City Contract action E–2: Local RES generation of electricity / sub-action Establishing an energy cluster.
About the request
TASK 1 – ANALYSIS
Analysis of the current technical conditions and legal possibilities of creating an energy cluster, including:
a. Analysis and description of the existing infrastructure in the cluster, including in particular:
- Installations related to the production, distribution, storage, transmission of electricity, heat (cold) and fuels in the cluster;
- Information on the demand and consumption of electricity and heat for all cluster members;
- List of RES installations (including those above 50 kW);
- Potential of free connection capacities (in a given cluster area published by the Distribution System Operator/Polish Energy Networks);
- Relations with DSOs – possibilities of using distribution networks (electricity, heating and gas), network availability, its density and age structure and possible ways of regulating cooperation. An analysis of the possibilities for building additional DSOs should also be conducted;
- Level of thermal modernisation of facilities, identification of activities already carried out in the field of thermal modernisation and planned investment projects in energy infrastructure along with their economic justification and financial analysis.
b. Analysis of legal and regulatory conditions:
- Analysis of the scope and quality of existing cooperation in energy management, including at the local government units and in external relations;
- Analysis of the legal regulations governing the operation of energy clusters, considering specific regulations concerning public institutions such as universities and municipalities and their cooperation with private entities;
- Identification of legal barriers, particularly in the context of public procurement, and proposals for solutions supporting the development of the cluster, especially regarding cooperation between public entities and energy producers and distributors;
- Analysis of risks and opportunities for Wrocław Municipality resulting from another entity coordinating the cluster. Additionally, the analysis should include the costs and benefits of the Wrocław Municipality playing various roles in the cluster (e.g., coordinator, member, producer, consumer);
- Comparative analysis between the proposed cluster concept and other possible organizational forms of energy management cooperation of the identified partners in the Polish context – currently and in the near future;
- Assessment of benefits, including economic ones;
- Risk assessment.
TASK 2 – CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Development of the concept and implementation plan for the energy cluster, which should include:
a. Concept of the energy cluster (or another more beneficial organizational structure) with the participation of Wrocław Municipality and the identified partners, including at least:
- Organizational and legal structure of the cluster and model of functioning (or another more beneficial organizational structure). The proposal should include at least: the name of the cluster, its legal form, location and area of operation of the cluster (in geographical scope), entities forming the cluster with their brief characteristics and contact details, the cluster coordinator with a description of his/her knowledge, experience, role and tasks in the cluster, the role of local government units and other partners in the energy cluster (tasks, legal, technical and financial responsibility, experience in obtaining external funds, financing possibilities). The proposal should also include organizational structure, considering the involved entities, the role of the DSO (Distribution System Operator), and the use of distribution networks in the cluster. Recommendation for a cooperation model between these institutions and the other members of the cluster, specifying their roles in managing and developing the cluster. The steps related to the creation of the cluster should be clearly presented. It should define the necessary technical, intellectual, and financial resources of the participants and indicate the entities that will be required to establish a functioning cluster.
- The main objectives of the energy cluster in Wrocław Municipality should be defined, including energy production and balancing, decarbonization, integration with smart grids, use of artificial intelligence and digitization of processes, integration with other sectors, and the social aspect. The effects of achieving these goals should be briefly described. The concept should include the technical scope of the cluster’s operation in the context of, among others, the generation of electricity, heat, fuels, increasing the efficiency of fuel and energy consumption, etc., the scope and quality of existing cooperation in the field of energy management. In addition, it should include the concept of social involvement, including human capital and intellectual potential in the implementation of the project in a given area of activity.
- Technology selection: Recommendation of energy technologies (e.g., photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, energy storage, smart grids) that can be used by both the Wrocław Municipality, public universities, and other cluster members, with an emphasis on the mutual benefits resulting from synergy between these entities. The concept should include: proposals for energy and fuel production and storage in the cluster, divided into sources and installations, indication of suppliers of energy and energy raw materials, recipients of energy produced in the cluster, identification of stakeholders and their categorization, and a forecasted energy balance of the cluster.
- Feasibility study: Technical and financial assessment of the proposed solutions, taking into account the specific infrastructure requirements of the Wrocław Municipality, Wrocław University of Technology, and the University of Wrocław, as well as the technical partner Kogeneracja S.A.
- Business model: Development of a financing, management, and operation model for the cluster, involving public and private entities.
- Development scenarios: Recommendations for different development scenarios for the cluster, considering the specific needs and strategic goals of the Wrocław Municipality, Wrocław University of Technology, the University of Wrocław, and other cluster members.
- Basic data sharing methodology – preliminary model for collecting and sharing energy data for cluster operation (e.g. energy consumption, production volume)
b. Environmental assessment:
- Environmental Impact Assessment of the planned investments and technological solutions.
- Identification of potential environmental risks and their mitigation strategies.
c. Implementation plan:
- Development of a timeline, scope, and responsibilities for the implementation of each element and stage of the cluster creation, including the stages and responsibilities required from the City of Wrocław, Wrocław University of Technology, the University of Wrocław, and other universities and entities that are part of the cluster.
- Identification of key partners and stakeholders, including research institutions, local administration, and potential business partners, along with proposed forms of cooperation.
Please find all further relevant information including full scope, out of scope, milestones, and all related information below.
Timeline and additional information
Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals by 1 April 2025 to Mateusz Hoffmann and Radka Reil, CESF Manager [CESF@netzerocities.eu]. Proposals should include and address all specific requirements related to the request which can be found below.
