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Digital tool cuts costs for councils developing energy plans
The Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP+) planning tool makes it quicker and more cost-efficient for local authorities to develop their Local Area Energy Plans.
At a glance
Who: UK Power Networks (UKPN); Advanced Infrastructure.
What: The organisations are providing free online access to the Area Energy Planning (LAEP+) planning tool to make it quicker and more cost-efficient for local authorities to develop their Local Area Energy Plans.
Why: To help local authorities prioritise investment in carbon saving schemes such as retrofits by segmenting properties according to their suitability and eligibility for grant funding. To date, there have been over 200 projects created by local authorities signed up to the tool.
Where: It is available to all 133 local authorities served by UKPN.
UK Power Networks’ Distribution Service Operator DSO is extending its partnership with energy data and software company Advanced Infrastructure to provide local authorities with free access to an online energy planning tool.
Developed by UK Power Networks and Advanced Infrastructure and co-designed with local authorities, the Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP+) planning tool aims to make it quicker and more cost-efficient for local authorities to develop their Local Area Energy Plans. Accessible via UK Power Networks’ Your Local Net Zero Hub website, the tool helps councils accelerate investment in their local area.
Electricity network operators
UK Power Networks claims it was the first network operator in the UK to make the LAEP+ tool available free of charge to each of the 133 local authorities it serves in summer 2023. The operator reports the platform has since been rolled out across the country with three other electricity network operators also making it available to some, or all, of the local authorities they serve.
These plans can be shared with UK Power Networks DSO to inform their network investment strategy. LAEP+ provides powerful data, scenario modelling and project-building tools to support decarbonisation plans in an accessible way aimed specifically at local authority staff.
“That’s why we’ve made LAEP+ freely available to all 133 of our local authorities so they can build their local area energy plans faster, at lower cost”
According to UKPN, previously, collecting data and mapping out potential decarbonisation projects by local authorities was a manual and resource-intensive process. The LAEP+ planning tool aims to address these challenges by streamlining data collection through improved collaboration, saving time and money for local authorities both in the short term, by providing their data, and in the longer term, shaping investment decisions on the electricity network that support their local delivery plans.
The LAEP+ planning tool helps local authorities prioritise investment in carbon-saving schemes such as retrofits by segmenting properties according to their suitability and eligibility for grant funding. To date, there have been over 200 projects created by local authorities signed up to the tool.
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The tool enables them to rapidly evaluate different scenarios to deploy retrofits and low-carbon technologies (LCT) in order to choose the optimum pathway to net zero and accelerate infrastructure roll out. It is estimated the LAEP+ planning tool saves 20 per cent on the cost of compiling a Local Area Energy Plan, based on cost data from local authorities and expert interviews.
Lynne McDonald, head of local net zero at UK Power Networks, said: “Local authorities told us it is important to have the right tools to plan effectively for their communities. That’s why we’ve made LAEP+ freely available to all 133 of our local authorities so they can build their local area energy plans faster, at lower cost. Local authorities were involved in shaping the tool right from the outset, meaning it has been built and designed with their needs at its core.
“Together with Advanced Infrastructure, we’re making the journey to net zero more joined-up, more local, and more achievable for local authorities.”
“By enabling local authorities and network operators to align on infrastructure needs in real time, we’re helping accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future while ensuring cost-effective and data-driven grid investments”
Lily Cairns Haylor, head of product and co-founder at Advanced Infrastructure commented: “The LAEP+ planning tool represents a significant step forward in digital collaboration for network planning. By enabling local authorities and network operators to align on infrastructure needs in real time, we’re helping accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future while ensuring cost-effective and data-driven grid investments.”
UK Power Networks owns and runs the cables and substations which deliver electricity from the national grid to 8.5 million homes and businesses across London, the south-east and east of England, serving approximately 20 million people.
The operator reports that as the country’s biggest electricity distributor, it has invested more than £8bn in its electricity networks since 2011, focusing on safety, network reliability, and customer service. It also innovates to care for vulnerable customers, keep costs low and help enable decarbonisation.
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How does LAEP+ improve cost efficiency for local energy planning?What data sources does LAEP+ use to segment properties for retrofits?How can local authorities use LAEP+ to prioritize carbon-saving investments?In what ways does LAEP+ facilitate collaboration between councils and network operators?How does scenario modelling in LAEP+ support net zero pathway decisions?
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