---
title: "Large Scale Non-Battery based Electrical Energy Storage Systems"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "UNITED KINGDOM INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS"
published: "2026-01-27"
---

# Large Scale Non-Battery based Electrical Energy Storage Systems

Buyer: UNITED KINGDOM INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe

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## Summary

The public procurement process for the "Large Scale Non-Battery based Electrical Energy Storage Systems" is currently in the planning stage, led by the United Kingdom Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS). This initiative is focused on engineering design services, particularly within the electrical power systems sector. The procurement is centred around Culham, Abingdon in the UK, and is geared towards developing infrastructure for the STEP fusion power plant project. A preliminary market engagement, slated to conclude on 23rd March 2026, aims to gather market insights to refine the project's specification. The procurement method involves an open tender, accessible through the Delta eSourcing portal, inviting global expertise to aid in creating a sustainable energy storage system poised to meet the complex power demands of a future fusion energy plant.

This tender provides significant growth opportunities for businesses in the energy storage and engineering sectors, especially those specialising in non-battery-based systems, such as Flywheels, Super-capacitors, or Fuel Cells, given the project's emphasis on innovative solutions to meet large power fluctuations efficiently. Firms with capabilities in designing and implementing large-scale electrical systems can benefit from engaging in this high-profile energy project with UKIFS, which offers the prospect of long-term involvement over the operation and maintenance phase, slated to span up to 20 years starting in 2029. The initiative could also serve as a catalyst for companies to develop cutting-edge technologies aligning with the evolving energy sector needs.

## Notice

The following summary is not intended as a complete or definitive specification of the requirement. A purpose of this engagement is to seek information from the market to help refine our understanding and aid the development of a future specification. STEP is currently in its Concept Design phase, which is expected to be completed by 2026. The electrical infrastructure of STEP will resemble that of large conventional thermal power stations; however, its design presents unique challenges: Fusion power stations like STEP have exceptionally large parasitic (auxiliary/house) loads required to initiate and sustain fusion reactions--significantly higher than those in conventional power plants. These parasitic loads must be supplied by external sources during plant start-up, before the power generation cycle begins producing electricity. The highly dynamic nature of these loads could make compliance with grid code requirements challenging. For more information, please refer to: Staying positive: producing net power | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A | The Royal Society UKIFS is seeking experts to support the technology selection of a Central Energy Storage System (CESS) that is part of the STEP Electrical infrastructure. Due to the power dynamics of operating the STEP power plant and the operating parameters set by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), an energy storage system is required to provide a mechanism to ensure that we remain within the NESO operating parameters. Rather than a continuous output, STEP will operate on a pulsed basis. The power dynamics of the fusion pulses are typically different to a conventional power plant. The CESS has been identified as a critical system to the design as it provides a mechanism to compensate for the changing load dynamics throughout the pulse. This will ensure STEP remains within the NESO defined operating parameters at the point of grid connection. The scope of the CESS cannot be fully defined due to knowledge gaps in CESS behaviour and limitations. Once these are understood, a technology will be selected, and limitations will be incorporated into the electrical infrastructure design. This PME is looking to address the knowledge gaps. The proposed technical and operations of the CESS are *2 operational cycles per day *Pulse length will be over 1 hour (continuous) *Power range larger than 300MW *Energy capacity 100-300MWh *Response in the millisecond range *Similar charge and discharge rates. *Fast response time during power swings (full charge to discharge) *High round trip efficiency: 80% In conjunction the CESS will be required to be operated and maintained for the 20-year life of the STEP machine. Due to the requirements, we are attempting to ascertain if this could be accomplished or partly accomplished by a non-battery-based system (Flywheel, Super-conducting magnetic storage (SMES), Capacitor, Super Capacitor, Fuel Cells or other) For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Culham:-Engineering-design-services./W8UFJUNW28 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/W8UFJUNW28

### Planning Information

To participate in this exercise, please complete and submit Appendix 1: Questionnaire and return any documents via the Delta portal. We are conscious of your time (and grateful to you for taking the time to complete the questionnaire), therefore we suggest you limit your responses to a maximum of 5 pages. If there are any areas you would like to expand on, please add a note to the relevant section for future discussion. 
If you experience any difficulties with the portal, please contact the portal helpdesk helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com cc operationalprocurement.step@ukifs.uk 
Information obtained from responses to Appendix 1: Questionnaire will help UKIFS understand current market capabilities and may shape the scope, direction, and design of the future procurement activities. 
If you have any questions about this Preliminary Market Engagement, please contact UKIFS through the Delta portal. We are keen to engage with suppliers to assist with the questionnaire if needed, to ensure quality responses enabling us to shape the future requirement and procurement. 
Following the submission and review of questionnaires, UKIFS intends to run an online conference call meeting/seminar/Q&A. The closing date for the pre-market engagement is Monday 23rd March 2026, 1 pm.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007128-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 24 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2029 - 31 Mar 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNITED KINGDOM INDUSTRIAL FUSION SOLUTIONS |
| Locality | CULHAM |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX14 3DB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |
| Local authority | South Oxfordshire |
| Electoral ward | Sandford & the Wittenhams |
| Westminster constituency | Didcot and Wantage |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71320000 - Engineering design services
- 71323100 - Electrical power systems design services
- 71323200 - Plant engineering design services

## Release History

- 27 Jan 2026 at 14:05 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007128-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007128-2026
  27th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/W8UFJUNW28
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Culham:-Engineering-design-services./W8UFJUNW28
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fbe.json.