Accelerating local places towards Net Zero with models and tools that help to develop zero carbon strategies, scale-up innovations, attract investment and create jobs

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Accelerating local places towards Net Zero with innovative models and tools

Energy Systems Catapult has developed a Place-based Net Zero Toolkit for local authorities, energy networks, businesses, communities and innovators to accelerate zero carbon solutions.

Each local place is unique and the right decarbonisation strategy will depend on the geography, building types, energy infrastructure, energy demand, resources, urban growth plans and low carbon ambitions of the local community.

We’ve developed a toolkit that helps clean companies and communities flourish, combining cutting edge whole system models, tools, guides, case studies and information to support the growth of innovative low carbon businesses, attract infrastructure investment and create jobs.

How we can help you...

Energy Systems Catapult offers models, tools and labs to help local places navigate to Net Zero

Case Studies

Bridgend Country Borough Council

Around 80% of local authorities in the UK have declare a climate emergency and targets of achieving Net Zero before 2050, yet few have a clear plan on not clear how to get there, what needs to be done in what order, or which technologies and infrastructure to invest in.

Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) is a data-driven, whole system approach – that considers how to decarbonise the entire energy system at least cost across electricity, gas, heat and transport, down the supply chains from energy generation to distribution and consumption in homes and businesses, and across systems – the physical, digital, market and policy systems.

Bridgend Country Borough Council were one of the first local places in the country to to collaborate on a LAEP – focused initially on the decarbonisation of heat.

Working with BCBC, Wales and West Utilities and other key local stakeholders we developed a street-by-street LAEP unique to the area – that found decarbonisation of heat could be achieved at a cost premium of just 15% above the cost of decarbonising electricity alone.

The LAEP delivered future local energy scenarios; insights and evidence to help develop of a pipeline of innovation projects to transform the energy system to zero carbon over time; and identified opportunities and risks to help support more open dialogue, future engagement and investment in building retrofit, heat, gas and electricity networks.

Bridgend returned in 2021 to collaborate of extending the LAEP to include transport, energy storage and hydrogen.

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