REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
10MW/20MWh Battery Energy Storage System
RFI2026/05
Manx Utilities (MU) is a Statutory Board of the Isle of Man Government, proud to be a trusted provider of essential utility services that support the Island’s people, economy, and environment. With a dedicated team of around 400 staff and an annual turnover of approximately £150 million, we play a vital role in keeping the Island running every day.
MU is seeking market information on the potential supply, design, delivery and operation of a 10MW/20MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This RFI supports an early-stage assessment of how BESS could contribute to future electricity system flexibility, stability, resilience, and decarbonisation on the Isle of Man.
This RFI is for market engagement and information-gathering purposes only. It is intended to help MU understand available technologies, indicative cost drivers, technical constraints, delivery considerations, and potential procurement approaches before deciding whether to progress any formal project.
Background
MU operates an islanded electricity system with interconnection to external networks and periods of import-dominant operation. As the system transitions towards lower-carbon generation and increased operational complexity, MU is investigating whether BESS could provide additional flexibility, including support for system stability, voltage and frequency control, peak management, reserve services, and renewable integration. MU is also seeking early market insight on practical connection considerations, including potential integration at 11kV or 33kV.
Purpose of this RFI
The purpose of this RFI is to gather market intelligence to support feasibility assessment, option development, and procurement planning. MU is particularly interested in understanding indicative pricing, technical requirements, delivery constraints, connection considerations, supplier capability, and key risks associated with a potential BESS project.
Responding to this Request for Information - consent to follow-up discussion
Respondents are requested to confirm whether they are willing for MU to contact them after submission to discuss indicative pricing and BESS-related technical or commercial
matters. If willing, please provide a preferred contact name, role, organisation, email address, and telephone number.
Any follow-up engagement will be voluntary, non-binding, and used only to support MU’s understanding of the BESS market and potential project options. Information gathered through this RFI may be used to:
- Develop a refined technical specification
- Inform procurement strategy (e.g. market approach, packaging, timelines)
- Assess feasibility and options
If MU decides to progress the project, any purchase of goods or services will be subject to a separate formal procurement process carried out in line with applicable Isle of Man Government procurement procedures.
Disclaimer
This RFI does not create any obligation on MU to procure, purchase, award a contract, or proceed with the project. Participation in this RFI, or any follow-up discussion, is voluntary and non-binding, and will not confer preferential treatment or competitive advantage in any future procurement process.
This document is provided for the purposes of market engagement through the Isle of Man Government Procurement Portal and should not be used for any other purpose.
Further information
Please be aware that neither MU, Procurement, any other part of the Isle of Man Government, nor any other organisation assisting MU with the procurement process, will accept liability or charges for expenses or losses incurred by any interested party as a result of responding to this enquiry.
In order to participate in this Request for Information, your organisation must be registered on the Isle of Man Government’s Procurement Portal. If you have not previously registered, please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/iomg/aspx/Home and select ‘Register’ from the menu on the right-hand side of the Home Page.
Once you have registered your organisation, select this exercise from the list of ‘Current Tenders’, choose ‘View Details’, and click ‘Express Interest’ at the bottom of the page. Once you have clicked ‘Express Interest’, a ‘Form of Acknowledgement’ tab will appear. This tab will provide a copy of the ‘Appeals Procedure’ to be downloaded. In order to progress to the next stage of the process, you will need to ‘Opt-In’, complete the ‘Form of Acknowledgement’ questionnaire, upload your RFI Response document, and click ‘Submit Return’ before the deadline as detailed below.
Should you have any difficulty using the website or registering your interest in this way, please contact procurement@manxutilities.im.
Expressions of interest and RFI Response documents must be submitted through the above Portal by noon on Wednesday 26th of August 2026.