’Climate emergency’ councils to get support
More than 80% of local authorities have declared climate emergencies, but for many the pathway to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions is still unclear.
UK Power Networks has made a commitment to supporting local communities with free insights, advice and support to help make their clear air, lower carbon plans a reality.
The aim of the new platform is to enable UK Power Networks to proactively get in touch with local authorities in the area it serves and provide them with the information that will underpin their local energy plans and ensure the energy network of the future meets the needs of the people it serves.
The electricity network is developing a new Local Net Zero hub in collaboration with local authorities serving the 20 million customers it serves in London, the East and South East of England. The first prototype release of the portal aims to test the team’s ideas about what kind of help and support could be useful to help local energy planners in the early stages of developing a Local Area Energy Plan.
Local authorities are now being invited to road test the working prototype of the new platform and help inform its development before a full roll-out of the final product later this year. UK Power Networks is keen to learn what additional tools and functions local authorities would find useful in developing their own Local Area Energy Plans.
Energy planners can learn how to get started, see what others have done and are doing, check current forecasts for their areas and much more.
After completing a short quiz to help identify where they are on their journey and how familiar they are with tools and data, users are provided with customised information to help progress their plans.
The Local Net Zero Hub will also help to connect local authority officers and elected members with UK Power Networks team of ‘Net Zero Associates’, who will use their specialist knowledge and data to offer free advice to help local authorities shape their plans.
With feedback from the prototype being used alongside workshops and engagement with local authority staff UK Power Networks will design the right features and services to help councils turn their Net Zero plans into a reality.
- Local government staff working on local area energy plans will be able to use the tool to:
- Learn about Local Area Energy Planning basics
- Find out how others are doing
- Read some case studies and actual complete LAEPs
- Share plans for your local areas
- Meet with UK Power Networks Local Net Zero team
Lynne McDonald, head of local Net Zero at UK Power Networks said: “The team and I are here to help local authorities realise their Net Zero ambitions. The services and help that we can offer are directly shaped by our customers and what they need.
“We’ve been working hard to really listen, understand and deliver for local authorities, but this working prototype is just the start. We’re looking forward to working with our colleagues in local authorities and developing the features and services they and their partners need from us.”
Nick Adlam, of Eastbourne Borough Council said: “Planning for a Net Zero future is a huge challenge all local authorities face. Knowing what we need to do, who we should engage with and when to do it in the most cost-efficient way can be a hugely time consuming and intricate process. UK Power Networks’ new platform brings everything together in one place, revolutionising how we work. It has made it easier than ever before to plan and explore how we can unlock the potential benefits of the transition to Net Zero for our community. We look forward to continuing to work together to evolve the platform as we continue our path to a greener, better future for all.”
To begin using the working prototype of the platform and help develop the full product visit: Your Local Net Zero Hub
UK Power Networks has made a commitment to supporting local communities with free insights, advice and support to help make their clear air, lower carbon plans a reality.
The aim of the new platform is to enable UK Power Networks to proactively get in touch with local authorities in the area it serves and provide them with the information that will underpin their local energy plans and ensure the energy network of the future meets the needs of the people it serves.
The electricity network is developing a new Local Net Zero hub in collaboration with local authorities serving the 20 million customers it serves in London, the East and South East of England. The first prototype release of the portal aims to test the team’s ideas about what kind of help and support could be useful to help local energy planners in the early stages of developing a Local Area Energy Plan.
Local authorities are now being invited to road test the working prototype of the new platform and help inform its development before a full roll-out of the final product later this year. UK Power Networks is keen to learn what additional tools and functions local authorities would find useful in developing their own Local Area Energy Plans.
Energy planners can learn how to get started, see what others have done and are doing, check current forecasts for their areas and much more.
After completing a short quiz to help identify where they are on their journey and how familiar they are with tools and data, users are provided with customised information to help progress their plans.
The Local Net Zero Hub will also help to connect local authority officers and elected members with UK Power Networks team of ‘Net Zero Associates’, who will use their specialist knowledge and data to offer free advice to help local authorities shape their plans.
With feedback from the prototype being used alongside workshops and engagement with local authority staff UK Power Networks will design the right features and services to help councils turn their Net Zero plans into a reality.
- Local government staff working on local area energy plans will be able to use the tool to:
- Learn about Local Area Energy Planning basics
- Find out how others are doing
- Read some case studies and actual complete LAEPs
- Share plans for your local areas
- Meet with UK Power Networks Local Net Zero team
Lynne McDonald, head of local Net Zero at UK Power Networks said: “The team and I are here to help local authorities realise their Net Zero ambitions. The services and help that we can offer are directly shaped by our customers and what they need.
“We’ve been working hard to really listen, understand and deliver for local authorities, but this working prototype is just the start. We’re looking forward to working with our colleagues in local authorities and developing the features and services they and their partners need from us.”
Nick Adlam, of Eastbourne Borough Council said: “Planning for a Net Zero future is a huge challenge all local authorities face. Knowing what we need to do, who we should engage with and when to do it in the most cost-efficient way can be a hugely time consuming and intricate process. UK Power Networks’ new platform brings everything together in one place, revolutionising how we work. It has made it easier than ever before to plan and explore how we can unlock the potential benefits of the transition to Net Zero for our community. We look forward to continuing to work together to evolve the platform as we continue our path to a greener, better future for all.”
To begin using the working prototype of the platform and help develop the full product visit: Your Local Net Zero Hub