Decision

To approve participation in the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) Digital Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) Innovation Pilot and to approve a contract with Energy Systems Catapult Services Limited for the delivery of the Digital LAEP Pilot

Reasons for the decision

Wiltshire Council is seeking to secure a single integrated and delivery-focused energy plan to coordinate renewable energy deployment, electricity network infrastructure, low carbon heat, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and wider energy system investment. While the council has developed a range of evidence bases, including Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) stages 1-3, Renewable Energy Resource Assessments, carbon emissions pathways, LAEP+ (previously called LENZA) outputs and EV strategy work.

Participation in the Energy Systems Catapult pilot project will provide the council with a Digital Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP). The National Planning Policy Framework states that local authorities must plan positively for renewable energy, and national guidance (published by Town and Country Planning Association and Royal Town Planning Institute) encourages the use of Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP) as an important part of the evidence base for Local Plans. The Digital LAEP provided as an output of this project will serve as an evidence base for the emerging Local Plan, showing where renewable energy will need to be located, and when, to support the long-term transition to an entirely clean energy system.

Energy infrastructure constraints are increasingly affecting the delivery of housing growth, economic development, net zero ambitions and investment opportunities in Wiltshire. The council requires a more comprehensive understanding of future energy system requirements and investment priorities to support long-term sustainable growth and effective engagement with network operators, developers, investors and national energy planning processes, and to be able to proactively plan for renewable energy through the development of the Local Plan.

The Energy Systems Catapult Digital LAEP Pilot provides an opportunity for Wiltshire Council to access an innovative digital planning tool that uses whole-system modelling across thousands of scenarios to identify, prioritise and sequence energy interventions and projects. The Digital LAEP will provide a costed and prioritised pipeline of opportunities covering technologies including heat pumps, insulation, EV charging, solar PV, onshore wind and heat networks. It will support evidence-based plan-making, decision-making, project development, funding bids and future energy investment.

Participation in the pilot will allow Wiltshire Council to build upon existing LAEP and LAEP+ (previously called LENZA) work while avoiding the significantly higher costs associated with commissioning a traditional standalone LAEP. The pilot fee of £24,999 plus VAT represents a cost-effective approach compared with the estimated £50,000–£150,000+ cost of a full LAEP exercise.

The pilot deliverables include:

• A Digital LAEP online platform.
• Workshop 1: Introduction to Local Area Energy Planning.
• Workshop 2: Platform onboarding and user training.
• Access to supporting knowledge resources through Net Zero Go.
• Access to the platform for a period of three years.

The resulting Digital LAEP will form a core component of a future Wiltshire Energy Plan and support the council's climate objectives, planning activities and investment priorities.

See the attached document for considerations in line with Wiltshire Council’s Constitution.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 – Do nothing
This option was rejected as Wiltshire would continue to lack an integrated and delivery-focused energy planning framework, limiting the council's ability to respond to energy infrastructure constraints, funding opportunities and future growth requirements.

Option 2 – Commission a full standalone LAEP
This option was considered but rejected at this stage due to significantly higher costs and longer delivery timescales. Estimates suggest a traditional LAEP could cost between £50,000 and £150,000 or more.

Option 3 – Await the publication of national and regional energy plans
This option does not provide a timely input of evidence into the Local Plan. Furthermore, the development of regional and national plans by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) calls for bottom-up information inputted by local authorities. Therefore, having our own LAEP will not only provide us with local-level detail, but will help the council to inform the NESO plan development process, and ensure that Wiltshire’s strategic priorities and growth strategies are adequately considered and reflected in the NESO plans, which in turn inform the DNO plans for distribution network upgrades.

Option 4 – Participate in the ESC Digital LAEP Pilot (Preferred Option)
This option provides access to whole-system modelling, an interactive digital platform and a prioritised project pipeline at a significantly lower cost while enabling Wiltshire Council to shape an innovative national pilot programme.