Evaluating the Catapult’s role in developing and promoting local area energy planning

Decarbonising local energy systems is essential to achieving the UK’s Net Zero targets. Around 82% of UK greenhouse gas emissions fall within the scope of influence of local authorities, yet historically local energy decision‑making has been fragmented, reactive, and poorly aligned with network, investment, and delivery constraints.

Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) was developed to address this challenge by providing a robust, whole‑systems, place‑based approach to local energy planning.

This report, available to download below, evaluates the impact of Energy Systems Catapult’s role in developing and supporting LAEP across the UK.

The evidence gathered from stakeholders strongly supports the conclusion that the Catapult enabled a structured and consistent approach to LAEP, which has scaled nationally.

• As of April 2026, 140 local authority areas have completed or are developing a LAEP, a level of uptake that stakeholders report would not have occurred as quickly, or at all, without the Catapult’s intervention.
• The structured LAEP approach is widely viewed as enabling local authorities to begin their energy transition journey with greater confidence, providing a credible evidence base to prioritise actions, coordinate stakeholders, and engage with network operators and funders.

Nearly every interviewee stated that without the structured approach to LAEP, local energy planning would likely be fragmented or intuition-based decision-making, often leading to misaligned investments, unrealistic assumptions or grid bottlenecks.

The evaluation finds strong evidence that:

• LAEPs are influencing Distribution Network Operators’ (DNOs) planning processes, particularly through integration into Distribution Future Energy Scenarios and re-opener applications.
• LAEPs are also supporting Regional Energy Strategic Planning by providing bottom‑up, place‑based intelligence.
• Evidence of direct impacts on investment is positive but more mixed, reflecting the early stage of delivery in many areas and the time lag between planning and implementation.

Overall, the findings show that the LAEP approach, created by the Catapult, has become a foundational component of local and regional energy governance in the UK.

We expect that by providing a clear, credible pipeline of place-based projects and priorities, LAEPs will help create a more investable and predictable market for innovation, enabling SMEs to develop, test and scale solutions aligned to local needs.

In doing so, LAEPs reduce uncertainty for innovators and delivery partners, making it easier for SMEs to engage with local authorities, compete for work and play a growing role in delivering the transition to Net Zero.

Download the report below to read the findings and feedback from stakeholders.