Energy Systems Catapult has launched the Net Zero Data Baseline Bundle, a new data solution designed to help local authorities overcome cost and resource challenges, and help consultants to save time in the decarbonisation planning process.

The bundle, available on the Net Zero Market, removes the need to source, collate, and cleanse data from multiple sources, and ensures everything you need to progress your journey to Net Zero is available in one place. It provides a clear, data-driven starting point for councils developing, updating, or measuring the impact of their Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) and other climate strategies.

Currently, 60% of local authorities in Great Britain have not published a structured decarbonisation plan. Many councils struggle to fund a full LAEP and don’t know where or how to get started with decarbonisation planning, while others lack the resources or expertise to effectively update outdated plans and track progress over time.

Consultants supporting local authorities also face significant time constraints, often spending excessive effort on collecting and cleansing data before meaningful engagement can begin. The Baseline Bundle addresses these barriers by streamlining access to essential energy and emissions data.

The Baseline Bundle delivers a comprehensive snapshot of an area’s current and planned energy landscape, including current emissions, energy demand, existing domestic rooftop solar PV, heat pump installations, ground mounted solar, onshore wind potential, and existing and planned heat networks.

The data is packaged in an easy-to-use format, complete with a summary report, charts, and insights that can be integrated into modelling and visualisation tools. This makes it a practical and cost-effective option for councils that need to track their Net Zero progress, identify priority projects, or update existing plans without commissioning a full LAEP.

For consultancies working with local authorities, the bundle reduces the time spent on data preparation, enabling a greater focus on strategy, stakeholder engagement, and the delivery of impactful decarbonisation initiatives. By providing a robust foundation of data, it helps both councils and their partners make informed decisions more efficiently.

While not a replacement for a full LAEP, the Baseline Bundle and the wider suite of Net Zero Data products offer a pragmatic step forward for councils with limited budgets, time, and resource. These products support faster, more targeted action on Net Zero, ensuring that local authorities can move from planning to implementation with greater confidence.

Leslie Addo, Business Development Specialist at Energy Systems Catapult, said:

“Local authorities tell us that access to reliable and comprehensive data, availability of resource and the skillsets needed to bring data together in a meaningful way that both technical and non-technical audiences can understand are the biggest barriers they face in driving forward their Net Zero ambitions.

“The Baseline Bundle provides an opportunity to bridge this gap, giving councils and their partners a clear starting point for informed decision-making in the form of a simple report of their region, supplemented by the underlying data for analysis and visualisation purposes.

“By simplifying access to essential energy insights, we are empowering local authorities to take meaningful steps towards decarbonisation, helping them move from planning to tangible action more efficiently than ever before.”

The Baseline Bundle is available with introductory pricing starting at £8,500 until March 31, 2025. It is hosted on Net Zero Market, a registered G-Cloud Supplier on the Crown Commercial Supplier Framework.