What is a LAEP (Local Area Energy Plan) and what is the most important thing it needs to do for you?
A LAEP is a fully costed plan for a local area to reduce carbon emissions and identifies the most effective changes needed in a local area’s energy system to reach its net zero targets and contribute to the national net zero commitment. In this article, we explain how they work and the most important deliverables a good LAEP will give you…
Who are LAEPs for?
A LAEP outlines the changes needed to bring an area’s energy system to Net Zero and are modelled up to 2050. It should identify what changes to the local energy system and the built environment are needed, be fully costed and detail changes over time in energy use and emissions. The scope will consider:
Energy networks (electricity, heat and gas with the potential for hydrogen).
The built environment in the area (industrial, domestic, and commercial), including its structure, systems, adaptability, energy generation, energy storage, and provision of energy for low-carbon transportation (such as electricity for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure).
How are LAEPs developed?
The process for developing a LAEP will include:
Developing an understanding and representation of the current energy system in the local area.
Modelling future scenarios and assessing the preferred combination of technological and systems changes required.
Developing appropriate, prioritised actions to achieve the required change.
Integrating extensive stakeholder engagement throughout the process.
Producing a robust and practical LAEP document that can be utilised to implement the required changes.
What should a good LAEP deliver?
1) A clear, meaningful action plan
The single most important deliverable of an effective LAEP is an easy-to-understand set of clear, meaningful and addressable actions.
Yes, there needs to be detailed, robust modelling to inform these actions and provide the data-driven evidence base, but this modelling should never in itself be the outcome. What you need is a clear plan that all the relevant stakeholders can understand and that details who needs to do what, by when and how.
In our experience, LAEPs can sometimes fail in this respect and reverse the priorities – focusing too much on showing the analysis and not providing enough clarity on required action. We’d say the final LAEP should have a summary of the core plan that is a maximum of 10 pages long and is clear and straightforward for all stakeholders to grasp, with more detail and a much longer evidence base to support it as required.
2) The flexibility to adapt to real-world events
Likewise, a good LAEP needs to be flexible enough to deal with reality. For example, it’s one thing to assume that the government will make a decision on hydrogen heaters by 2026, but what do you do if that decision doesn’t get made or gets pushed down the line?
So a good LAEP needs to be dynamic and flexible so it can adapt to the external environment as required (and without the need to spend huge amounts of money to update the LAEP every time something changes).
3) Compliance with the guidance but a plan that is not restricted by it
Energy Systems Catapult has provided guidance for the development of LAEPs (see Guidance on creating a Local Area Energy Plan).
In our opinion, the guidance is useful but shouldn’t become too restrictive on the LAEP. For example, we’ve had clients who have found the guidance too rigid and wanted a LAEP that is more aspirational.
A good LAEP will facilitate this and be prepared to go beyond this guidance where doing so improves the value and usefulness of the plan it delivers.
How can you get the LAEP you need?
At City Science, we are huge advocates of LAEPs. In our opinion, LAEPs need to go beyond detailed modelling (even though we believe our modelling is second to none) and focus on a simple, meaningful and dynamic plan of action to deliver net zero for your area.
If this sounds like the solution you are looking for, please email us info@cityscience.com to learn more!