City Science has been awarded the contract to develop Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) for the South West Wales Region via an open procurement. The programme develops three tailored LAEPs for Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Councils and forms part of a coordinated work schedule funded by Welsh Government.
A LAEP is a fully costed plan for a local area to reduce carbon emissions from the energy system. It identifies the most effective changes required to reach local and national net zero commitments. You can read more about LAEPs here and see our ‘7 reasons to develop a LAEP’ here.
Work on the programme is already underway and will include consolidating and analysing data to produce a baseline representation of the area, developing and modelling future scenarios, producing carbon reduction pathways, and developing a prioritised action plan to support decarbonisation. In taking this approach, we build on the needs of each area to allow a comprehensive yet broad view of the energy system. The projects will result in three LAEPs that are tailored to the local landscape, whilst being aligned and consistent with wider regional and national aspirations.
Our programme will consider all areas of the energy system including generation, storage, industry, commercial, institutional/public sector, domestic, and transport. At the heart of the LAEP process is extensive stakeholder engagement and data gathering. This is because delivering an evidence-based LAEP that is grounded in local experience is essential for adequate provision for local, regional and national societal needs.
Programme Manager Jade Baker-Edwards says: “City Science is delighted to have been awarded this programme, which builds on our existing energy decarbonisation work across the UK. We are excited to provide Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Councils with rich and meaningful LAEPs that can improve the quality of life for residents, reduce energy systems costs and help to meet net zero targets.”
If you are interested in an expertly created and evidence-based LAEP for your area, or would just like to learn more, please contact us on info@cityscience.com