Planning for Winchester's future energy needs
To reduce emissions across our district, we need to consider the whole energy system and how we are using energy. This includes reducing emissions from our buildings, transport, power, and heating systems. The energy system is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions, making it a priority in decarbonisation planning.
The council has developed a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) to identify the most effective route to decarbonise our district’s energy system, based on the unique characteristics, opportunities, and constraints within our district. The plan will serve as a critical enabler for the decarbonisation of our local energy system.
We have worked with Scottish & Southern Electricity (SSEN) and Advanced Infrastructure Technology Ltd (AITL) to develop the Winchester district LAEP. The LAEP has been developed using the Local Area Energy Planner Plus (LAEP+) tool, owned by AITL.
Along with the full technical LAEP report, a suite of supporting documents and tools can be accessed on this page. The publication of the LAEP report represents the start of the council’s energy planning journey. Officers are now commencing work on developing a delivery plan and next steps. Further updates are coming soon.
Accessibility Notice
The Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) is a detailed technical document that has been prepared to support long-term energy planning across the Winchester district. It is intended for use by energy, planning and infrastructure professionals, partner organisations, and other stakeholders across the district. As a result, some sections contain complex technical information that may be difficult for non-specialist audiences to interpret.
We are committed to making the findings of the LAEP as accessible as possible and will be publishing a plain-English, non-technical summary in the near future. This summary will explain the key messages, opportunities, and recommendations in a more accessible and reader-friendly format.
If you need support accessing or understanding the information contained within the LAEP, please contact us at climateemergency@winchester.gov.uk
FAQs
What is a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP)?
Why has Winchester City Council developed a LAEP?
What was the process for developing the LAEP?
What are the main findings from the LAEP?
What is a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP)?
The purpose of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) is to identify the most cost-effective pathway for the Winchester district to reach net zero and realise local benefits at a local level. It identifies potential actions for how to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through building improvement measures, such as insulation and low-carbon heating, as well as deployment of other low carbon technologies such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure and renewable energy generation.
Local area energy planning is a process that helps inform, shape and enable key aspects of the transition to a net zero carbon energy system. It is recognised as the leading way of turning net zero targets into local energy system action and is created with input from a range of local stakeholders. The concept of LAEP was developed by Energy Systems Catapult. You can find out more about LAEP on the Energy Systems Catapult website.
Why has Winchester City Council developed a LAEP?
Winchester City Council has declared a climate and nature emergency and is committed to supporting the transition to a low-carbon, more sustainable future for our district. Achieving this transition will require significant changes to the way energy is generated, distributed, stored, and used across our communities.
The council developed the LAEP to better understand the changes needed to decarbonise the district’s energy system and identify the most effective pathways for delivery. The LAEP provides detailed evidence on how different technologies and interventions could contribute to reducing emissions, while highlighting the scale of investment and collaboration required to achieve this transition.
The development of a Winchester district LAEP is regarded as a critical enabler to the decarbonisation of the local energy system and a key strategic priority for the council. The council will use the LAEP to help inform future decision-making, work with partners to develop delivery plans, and support discussions with organisations responsible for energy networks, infrastructure, and investment. The plan provides an important evidence base for shaping the transition to net zero and which we hope to use to channel further investment into the district.
What was the process for developing the LAEP?
Winchester City Council worked with two delivery partners, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and Advanced Infrastructure Technology Ltd (AITL), to develop the Winchester district LAEP, using the Local Area Energy Planner Plus (LAEP+) tool, owned by AITL. AITL led the development of the technical analysis within the LAEP, using their Local Area Energy Planner Plus (LAEP+) tool. The project was funded by SSEN to support the development of the LAEP+ tool and demonstrate the value of a Winchester district LAEP to support network investment plans.
The process of developing the Winchester district LAEP aligned with the Energy Systems Catapult’s seven-stage methodology. Key activities included creating a baseline of the current energy system and then modelling future scenarios for a net zero energy system by different target dates (i.e., 2030, 2040, 2050). The plan aims to identify the most effective route to decarbonise our district’s energy system, based on the unique characteristics, opportunities, and constraints within our district.
What are the main findings from the LAEP?
The LAEP modelled a wide variety of low carbon technologies across both domestic and non-domestic buildings, including:
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Insulation – cavity wall, loft, underfloor, and external wall
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Heat pumps – air source and ground source heat pumps
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Heat networks
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Rooftop solar PV
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Large-scale renewable generation – solar farms and onshore wind
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Electric vehicle infrastructure
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Hydrogen
The modelling assessed the rate and scale of deployment required for each type of technology in order to achieve net zero by a range of target dates (i.e., scenarios).
The report suggests that the scenario to achieve net zero by 2040 represents the optimal pathway for transitioning the energy system to net zero. Modelling suggests that if this scenario was pursued, net zero could almost be achieved by 2040. The report also highlights the gap to 2030 and the need for further support and resource in order to achieve this ambitious local target.
What are the next steps?
In the short-term the council will be developing a non-technical summary report and other supporting resources to be published on this page. We are committed to making the findings of the LAEP as accessible as possible, and the additional resources will aim to achieve this.
Now that we have a LAEP for the Winchester district, this is not the end of the process of energy planning. Rather it represents the start of our journey and we have further work to do to work with partners and stakeholders across the district to implement the LAEP.
Officers are now commencing work on developing a delivery plan and next steps. In the longer-term, this will include identifying and prioritising projects with stakeholders and partners, considering finance and delivery models and options, and developing an investment prospectus to secure investment in our district. We also plan to use the LAEP to help inform the emerging Local Plan.
Further updates are coming soon but, in the meantime, if you have any questions about the LAEP please email climateemergency@winchester.gov.uk