Chevron Guidance on creating a Local Area Energy Plan

Guidance on creating a Local Area Energy Plan

Energy Systems Catapult has published guidance on how to create a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), aimed at local government organisations who are looking to create a plan to help them meet their net zero goals and climate emergency declarations.

Development of the guidance was funded by the Prospering from the Energy Revolution challenge through UK Research & Innovation.

A LAEP sets out the change required to transition an area’s energy system to Net Zero in a given timeframe. This is achieved by exploring potential pathways that consider a range of technologies and scenarios, and when combined with stakeholder engagement leads to the identification of the most cost-effective preferred pathway and a sequenced plan of proposed actions to achieving an area’s Net Zero goal.

The Guidance provides a detailed description of the end-to-end process of creating a LAEP, broken down into seven stages:

  • Stage 1 – Preparation
  • Stage 2 – Stakeholder Identification and Engagement
  • Stage 3 – Understanding and Representing the Current Local Energy System
  • Stage 4 – Modelling Options for the Future
  • Stage 5 – Scenario Refinement and Selection
  • Stage 6 – Actions, Priorities, and Decisions
  • Stage 7 – Create the Plan

 

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Figure 1: The 7 stages of Local Area Energy Planning

Each stage is broken down into several steps, with each step having specific objectives. Each objective describes specific tasks, how they can be tackled, what considerations need to be made when tackling them, and links to any supporting sources.

Post-LAEP tools 
Support your LAEP implementation upon completion with Net Zero Data. Datasets and bundles, available to purchase – helping you make decisions on potential Net Zero project locations in minutes, not weeks.

Read the Summary Guide

The summary guide provides a shortened version of the full guidance, giving a high-level overview of the LAEP process. It briefly describes all of the stages, steps, and objectives that may be undertaken when creating a LAEP. It is deliberately short on detail and intended as a short and easily digestible run-through for anyone not familiar with LAEP, before the full guidance document is read.

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We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

Read the Full Guidance

Guidance on Creating a Local Area Energy Plan

Download

To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.

We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

Annexes

Annex 1: Template, Checklist, and Examples of Local Area Energy Planning

Provides a template of a LAEP, showing what it can contain, in what order, and provides examples of what LAEP outputs look like taken from LAEPs that have been produced to date.

Read more

Annex 2: Standard Data Inputs and Assumptions for Local Area Energy Planning

Provides links to a number of data sources that can be used when creating a LAEP, providing a detailed description of the characteristics of the data source, as well as identifying any assumptions that need to be made when using the data.

Read more

Annex 3: Guidance for Socio-Economic Analysis in Local Area Energy Planning

Provides detailed guidance on how to carry out socio-economic analysis when creating a LAEP, to ensure that the wider benefits from the energy transition are recognised and accounted for.

Read more

Why has this Guidance been developed?

This Guidance has been developed to meet the need for a common approach to LAEP.

A previous study by Energy Systems Catapult identified that LAEP guidance and templates are needed. Without them, local authorities and other stakeholders do not know what they are producing, how they should do it, and what they should include. Guidance, with accompanying suggested approaches and templates, will enable production of LAEPs in a standardised and consistent way.

This Guidance serves several purposes, including:

  • A common approach allows for comparability between areas, and for multiple plans to be aggregated across a large area (i.e., a region).
  • A common approach delivers efficiencies and value for money through familiarity for organisations involved in delivering several LAEPs, or for an organisation renewing a LAEP.
  • A common approach identifies the characteristics of the underlying data and assumptions involved in creating a LAEP.
  • To identify and provide clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of those involved in creating a LAEP.
  • To identify key characteristics of a minimum standard for creating a LAEP, that are consistent across multiple LAEPs.
  • To provide confidence to those funding the implementation of the LAEP.
  • To ensure that modelling tools meet the requirements to create a LAEP.

Energy Systems Catapult was commissioned by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to create the Guidance.

Who is the Guidance for?

The Guidance is written for multiple audiences:

  • Primarily, it is written for local government organisations who are anticipated will lead creating local area energy plans.
  • Secondly, it is written for key stakeholders who have an active role contributing and supporting a local government organisation as it creates a LAEP. This includes network operators, and consultants contracted to deliver aspects of a LAEP on behalf of a local authority.
  • It is also written for other stakeholders who have a role in supporting a local authority as it creates a LAEP. This includes the general public and community groups, Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Net Zero Hub, academics, industry, social housing provides, investors and businesses in the locality where a LAEP is being developed.
  • It is also written for other organisations who have an interest in net zero, including government departments (such as BEIS, DfT, DLUHC), devolved administrations, and national organisations (such as Ofgem, National Grid).

Need help delivering a Local Area Energy Plan?

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