GCRE Energy & Data Centre Opportunity - Updated 2026

Description

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is offering a major new competition to secure an Energy and Data Centre Partner (EDCP) for its 700-hectare site. This Notice is not for purchase of services, goods or works, it is advertising an opportunity for an investment partner to develop Data Centre (DC) assets and potentially Renewable Energy Sources (RES) at the GCRE site.GCRE is a new, purpose-built facility being developed in South Wales that has the potential to become Europe’s leading centre for rail and sustainable mobility innovation. GCRE is set to become the UK’s first ever net zero in operation railway. Located on a former open cast mine equivalent to the size of Gatwick Airport, the company is seeking an investment partner to develop Data Centre assets and potentially Renewable Energy Sources (RES) at the site.Any interested parties will need to sign and return a Confidentiality Agreement (CA) prior to gaining access to all associated documentation. The CA can be found attached to this Speculative Notice and also on our Website (https://www.gcre.wales/) and should be returned to StrategicInvestment@gcre.walesThe Conditions of Participation (COP) documentation will be made available to anyone with a valid CA, via the eTenderWales portal which you must be registered with in order to access the ITT documents. You can register for free here (emails registered must be those detailed on the CA):https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtmlThe opportunity to submit a COP response is currently programmed to close at 12 noon on 10 March 2026 and COP responses will no longer be accepted after closing. Responses will be submitted via the eTenderWales portal.This is a unique opportunity for Bidders:- Long-term partnering with a government-owned entity owning large land assets.- 700 Ha site only 30km from Bridgend and 50km from Cardiff where DC clusters are already forming.- Adjacency to recently announced AI Growth Zone for South Wales- 400kV and 132kV grid crossing the site. Nearby National Grid 400kV Grid Supply Point being planned.- Excellent future fibre connectivity.- Development of RES assets on site.- Multiple options to bring further renewables onto site via private wires.- Huge local and regional development value in conjunction with GCRE establishing the first Net Zero international rail R&D and testing cluster.- Deep political and community support for the jobs and opportunities that will be created in an under-invested area.What GCRE is seeking:Mandatory - A proposal to acquire land of up to c.80 Ha, on a 999 year lease, to develop a DC.Optional - A proposal to lease land of up to c.140 Ha, to develop a solar farm and potentially other RES assets.This Speculative Notice is informing any interested parties that this investment opportunity is open, the Confidentiality Agreement is available for execution and access to the COP documentation will be made available.This competition is not a regulated procurement under the Procurement Act 2023, but is informing interested parties of a major investment opportunity at the GCRE site in South Wales.NOTE: THIS NOTICE IS NOT BEING ADMINISTERED VIA SELL2WALES AND WILL NOT HAVE A FOLLOW UP NOTICERecording your interest here on the Sell2Wales site will not give you access to further information, nor will there be any further Notices or information issued on Sell2Wales.If you are interested in this investment opportunity you are advised to sign the Confidentiality Agreement (attached to this Notice) and return it to StrategicInvestment@gcre.wales after which the interested party will be granted access to all relevant documentation.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=160195.