A local area energy plan (LAEP) is a spatial plan, developed by a Local Authority, that identifies the energy implications of development projects and the changes needed to the local energy system and built environment to achieve net zero, detailing electricity, gas, and heat networks from a place perspective.
The plans will identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, switch to lower carbon fuels and use flexibility mechanisms to use, for example, electricity at times when its carbon footprint is lowest. It will also help to identify areas where energy availability is stronger as a consideration in inward investment.
LAEPs are intended to:
- reduce risk for investors;
- ensure the underlying infrastructure is available to support decarbonisation and
- ensure best value outcomes for communities
The aims of our local area energy planning work are as follows:
- Broaden understanding of how to decarbonise the West Midlands and build internal support
- Bring together external stakeholders to collaborate and achieve net zero
- Inform decision making in local government, including local and transport plans
- Influence investment by energy networks
- Identify and prioritise local net zero projects and Energy Opportunity Areas
- Provide data to develop business cases and complete funding bids through LAEP+ - a digital mapping tool developed under the PRIDE project
Project PRIDE
- To support Local Authorities with their LAEP development, Energy Capital has worked with its partners – NGED, Regen and Advanced Infrastructure Technology Ltd (AITL) – to develop a shared data platform called LAEP+
- The funding for this development came from the Strategic Innovation Fund in a project called PRIDE (Planning Regional Infrastructure in a Digital Environment)
- The initial (Discovery and Alpha) phases of the scheme delivered the basic LAEP+ tool and enabled its deployment in Local Authorities across the WMCA region.
- The Beta phase, which has just been agreed after a competitive bidding process, will enable the project to over a wider region – the West Midlands – with a view to demonstrating its value in the forthcoming Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) process.
- To underpin this, the existing governance structures – the LAEP Coordination group and the Net Zero Infrastructure Delivery Panel (NZIDP) will have their memberships extended to include representation from the wider community.
- It will also be resourced to support a review of LAEP governance arrangements in Wales