Brief
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia aims to become the first climate-neutral industrial region in Europe and achieve climate neutrality by 2045. To support this goal, a reliable, economical, and ecologically sustainable energy and heat supply is essential. The Energy and Heat Strategy of North Rhine-Westphalia outlines the comprehensive conceptual framework for political action in the state and the structured implementation of necessary measures for the transformation of the energy and heat system. NRW.Energy4Climate, the state company, consolidates its expertise in the four sectors that emit the most greenhouse gases: energy, industry & production, heat & buildings, and mobility, which together account for over 90% of greenhouse gas emissions in North Rhine-Westphalia. The aim is to accelerate the cross-sectoral transformation so that North Rhine-Westphalia can become climate-neutral as quickly as possible while strengthening its position as an industrial and service location for the future. A framework agreement will be awarded to support NRW.Energy4Climate in its activities. The thematic focuses, tasks, and services that the contractor must provide to support the overarching goals of the client will be described, as and when the client commissions such services and tasks within the framework of individual calls. The thematic focuses are on the infrastructures necessary for energy and heat transport and storage, including but not limited to: • Innovative, reliable energy systems (flexible and highly efficient combined heat and power plants, modular power plants (e.g., gas turbines, combined heat and power plants), heat storage, Power-to-X technologies (e.g., Power-to-Heat, fuel cells, electrolyzers), hydrogen as a fuel, and the digitalization of generation and supply (e.g., system control, IT and system security), • Integrated energy infrastructures (cross-energy carrier interfaces (especially transport, pipeline, and distribution infrastructures between electricity, gas, heat, and hydrogen, as well as the developing carbon dioxide infrastructure); transmission and distribution networks; scenario framework and network development planning in a cross-border context, network expansion planning by distribution network operators), • Smart grids and future distribution networks (integration of new energy converters and consumers into electricity distribution networks and issues of supply quality and security; rollout and use of digital technologies and digital business models), • Flexibility and storage (business models for flexibility marketing, demand flexibility, and flexibility in energy provision, as well as the combination of both; energy storage; gas and hydrogen storage, heat storage), • Energy organization of the coal phase-out and support for the federal power plant strategy (energy economic and system technical considerations and calculations for the further design of the coal phase-out, also considering supply security), • Changes due to a new electricity market design (e.g., capacity market, tenders for flexible gas power plants, or adjustments to the funding framework for renewable energies and power purchase agreements) and their impacts on today's electricity world (including pricing mechanisms). Further information on the areas of work can be found in the service description as part of the tender documents. The total remuneration for services under the framework agreement is capped at a net amount of 600,000 EUR per year, including any billable costs, covering both the fixed term according to § 3 para. 1 and 2 of the framework agreement and the optional extension of the term according to § 3 para. 3 of the framework agreement. The contractor has no claim against the client for acceptance of services until the above remuneration cap is reached. The client is also not obliged to commission a specific minimum quantity of services.
