Snetterton Power - Supplementary Guidance

In order to assist applicants, the Council has produced this supplementary guidance document to provide additional clarity on the evidence required and approach we will be taking during our October 2024 "Call for Power" exercise. Decisions will be made in accordance with the adopted policy.

Updated Call for Power

The Council is conducting this exercise to identify potential users of power in the Snetterton area, as we anticipate having further power available to us following a similar exercise run in 2023.

Applications are invited for up to 1MVA. Requests for power exceeding this amount will be considered. However, applicants are encouraged to remain below this wherever feasible to ensure the power benefits can be shared as widely as possible and that the power capacity available can be drawn down within the requisite timeframe. Applications seeking a greater quantum of power will need to submit a robust justification for doing so.

Guidance on the Criteria and Evidence

As per our published policy, we will evaluate bids based on fixed criteria copied below. To support applicants, we have detailed the type of evidence which applicants may want to include below, although please note that the onus is on applicants to make a substantial case for how they fit the criteria. Points of clarification may be sought where necessary. Otherwise, the information will be taken, as submitted, at face value.

"Tangible plans to bring forward developments which create new jobs and investment" (covered in question 7 on the application)

Evidence of this may include the following: -

• Planning permission for your proposals.
• Evidencing agreements with any end user/occupier(s).
• Evidencing that you have the necessary easements/legal agreements in place for the distribution of power to the premises/site.
• Your track record of delivering similar schemes.
• Where available and relevant, applications should be supported by plans showing the details of the wider scheme the premises forms part of e.g. the provision of a concept masterplan for the overall site.

"Ability to provide finance to cover the calculated cost of the infrastructure (£227,658 per 1 MVA pro-rata depending on the power required). Contributions will be considered both 'in kind' (i.e. through provision of further electrical infrastructure which benefits the local area) and / or in the form of a direct, equivalent financial contribution made to the Council" (covered in question 8 on the application)

Evidence of this may include the following:

• Evidence that you have finance secured to meet the cost of power requested e.g. cash on reserve, agreements from funders etc.
• Evidence of sufficient finance to deliver the project.
• For 'in-kind' contributions, provide detailed evidence of the form that this will take - e.g. if this is to take the form of distribution infrastructure, details of how this will be achieved in practical terms and/or the design/cost for this and details of how this will benefit the area and/or be accessible to others.

"Job creation and economic benefit to the area" (covered in Question 9 on the application)

Evidence of this may include the following:

• For job creation, we would like to understand:
  • How many new jobs will be created?
  • What industry these jobs will be in?
  • What the anticipated average salary is of the jobs created?
  • How will these jobs be new to the area?
• Any wider economic benefits that would arise as a result of this development.
• Details about the skills and training benefits that this investment would bring.
• If relevant, provide details of any plans you have, related to this development, around renewable energy generation/use.