Comment by Andrew Clark, Business Leader – Place, at Energy Systems Catapult. 

Network capacity can make or break Net Zero energy projects. With capacity, projects which may result in new demand or generation can go ahead, while without network capacity developments central to realising local economic or Net Zero priorities could be blocked. The frustration this causes, and rising Net Zero commitments, have strengthened the desire of local areas to influence network infrastructure investment with their priorities.

Ofgem has recognised the need to boost local involvement in infrastructure planning and shift from a single network to a whole‐systems approach. In 2022, it sought stakeholder views on reforming energy institutions and governance, and in 2023 it published its decision to introduce Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs). Delivered by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the 11 RESPs across Great Britain will blend national targets with local insights to set a long‐term vision and short‐term pathways for regional supply and demand.

The RESPs will aim to ensure that regional priorities and local plans are integrated with network planning, meaning investment is made when and where it is needed. The RESP’s whole system view, underpinned by democratic governance involving local government and other stakeholders, is critical in delivering added value beyond existing processes that inform individual gas and electricity network operators.

The Catapult led a piece of work for NESO in 2024 to develop the planning methodology for delivering RESPs. This project looked at defining the problem RESP is responding to, how RESP will fit in the future energy landscape, and how it will de-risk development.

Ofgem is still developing the policy framework which will guide NESO to develop the detailed RESP methodology, so the first RESP-proper will not be published until late 2027.

This is too late to inform the next round of network business planning (ED3), so Ofgem has set an expectation for ‘transitional RESPs’ to be created by January 2026. This is soon, and it makes the first half of 2025 important for areas to get their voice heard and inform the ‘TRESP’, so what are some key things to consider in getting ready for RESP?

Consider your existing evidence base

Over 80% of local authorities have declared a climate emergency, but currently there is a patchwork of Local Net Zero Plans across the country. In the absence of local insight, NESO is likely to use modelling assumptions in creating the RESPs. This high-level picture might not truly reflect a local area and its priorities in the regional plan.

During 2025, any local evidence detailing the energy vision, ambition, pathway, projects which are likely to be mobilised, and what is required of network infrastructure to deliver new demand or generation, will be critical inputs for the transitional RESP. This information should be gathered and consolidated.

Over 31% of local authorities have, or are pursuing, a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) to set out a bespoke, costed and credible, whole systems’ plan for their area. LAEPs identify pipelines of projects and how the network needs to change to accommodate the entirety of local ambition. They provide confidence (e.g. to the RESP) that a pathway has been identified by considering what combination of projects represents the best for the cost of the whole system on the way to Net Zero, balanced with exploring local priorities to help stakeholders make informed decisions.

The Catapult produced the guidance to create a Local Area Energy Plan in 2022. LAEPs were specifically referenced in Ofgem’s decision on RESP in 2023 as a local input and the Catapult is continuing to support NESO and Ofgem to understand how LAEPs can be part of the RESP framework.

Consider your other local priorities and how these relate to energy

Energy priorities for a local area are not just the sort of things that live in energy plans, like PV arrays or wind turbines. Energy is critical to realising local economic and social priorities, so providing the infrastructure to enable businesses to successfully invest, locate and grow, and helping citizens live healthier lives with more financial freedom are energy priorities too.

If a place has a critical investment zone that needs significant energy capacity to realise inward investment, planned new domestic developments that need to come online, or a key ambition to deliver a series of ‘Net Zero Neighbourhoods’ which create local supply chain opportunities through flexibility and electrification. These are all priorities that may need to be incorporated into regional infrastructure investment decision making, and the RESP is the way to land those priorities and influence that investment.

An energy lens should be cast across local economic and social priorities previously set out through plans and strategies such as Strategic Economic Plans, Local Industrial Strategies, Inward Investment plans, and Local Growth Plans. This will help identify where energy infrastructure may be an underpinning need that must be represented to the RESP. Major local landowners, freeports, and other such stakeholders could be consulted in determining this.

The Catapult is working with the West Midlands Combined Authority to accelerate growth of the regional Smart Energy Systems business and innovation cluster, aligned to local economic priorities. We are also supporting Belfast City Council to take forward energy projects as part of its Innovation District Masterplan, energy infrastructure will be critical aspects of this work.

Local government representation in RESPs

To ensure local voices are heard in the development of transitional RESPs, NESO will set up Regional Forums throughout 2025. These forums are designed to meet democratic representation requirements and will include local government as key participants.

Looking ahead, Ofgem plans to establish a Strategic Board for each full RESP once the permanent methodology is in place. These boards will provide transparent oversight of RESP development by combining input from local and devolved government, network companies, and other stakeholders.

Local government should not merely participate, it should actively shape the priorities of the RESP by presenting a clear, evidence-based vision that reflects local ambitions and needs. So the question becomes how can the local government voice best be represented in these forums. The Strategic Board will include seats for devolved and upper tier local government, but consideration should be given to each region’s existing governance arrangements around Net Zero.

Where a forum already exists to discuss and agree Net Zero or energy priorities this may form a useful conduit to discuss and agree the vision and key priorities to champion through the RESP process. If one does not exist, putting one in place may be beneficial.

Recent devolution reforms add further context. The December White Paper on English devolution outlines plans to extend devolution across England, replacing two-tier structures with unitary authorities and accelerating mayoral devolution in some areas by 2026. While local government boundaries may not perfectly align with RESP areas, existing democratic structures and regional forums, such as those already in place for economic or energy matters, can help ensure coordinated and effective representation.

The Catapult has leading experience of working with local government to develop local Net Zero plans within existing governance structures, or to establish governance which can effectively own and action a local Net Zero plan. Such as in Greater Manchester, and in Wales which was the first example of coordination from local to national scale, and more recently, in Leicestershire.

If you are considering how to get ready for RESP or need more information on Local Net Zero Planning and creating an evidence base to inform priorities, please get in touch. The Catapult is committed to working and innovating with places to ensure the voice of local interfaces effectively with network investment system planning to regional and national scale.