The Hub has been supporting a group of South West local authorities to advance their progress through the early stages of the Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) process.
A Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) is a spatial and temporal plan that enables an area to understand its pathway to net zero and results in a pipeline of investable projects.
The Energy Systems Catapult has developed a 7-Stage methodology for establishing a LAEP. Our project will offer Hub and consulting assistance to four local authorities in the region to move through Stages 1-3 of this methodology and will involve the establishment of:
- A governance structure
- An effective stakeholder engagement strategy,
- An energy baseline specific to each area
Once established these will provide a firm basis to complete further stages of the LAEP process and set the structure in place for delivery of a LAEP, even if the local authority is not immediately able to progress with further stages of the process.
The project is being delivered by Centre for Sustainable Energy and Regen over the next 6 months.
The four local authorities involved in the project are Dorset Council, Devon County Council, Gloucestershire County Council, and Wiltshire Council.
Jordan Clydesdale, Wiltshire Council Climate Officer said:
“We welcome the support of the Southwest Net Zero Hub, along with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Regen, in undertaking this vital piece of work.“
“This project will provide the necessary foundations for a comprehensive Local Area Energy Plan, helping us to establish the governance, stakeholder engagement, and data insights needed to map out a clear pathway to net zero energy.”
