WPD spearheads combined approach to local energy planning

A consortium led by Western Power Distribution (WPD) is working to create a combined approach to local energy planning to help local authorities and network companies achieve net zero.

The Energy Planning Integrated with Councils (EPIC) project is being trialled in three areas in South West England and will seek to develop an agreed process for identifying and analysing energy plans in relation to the increased uptake of low carbon technologies.

Currently the process to create distribution future energy scenarios (DFES) involves utility companies consulting local authorities who provide input into the process.

However, DFES are based on national scenarios which do not wholly adopt or incorporate local authorities’ longer-term strategic plans – a process that can lead to different expectations for future energy requirements between councils and utilities.

EPIC is a £540,000 Network Innovation Allowance-funded project to create a standardised process and tool that can be used with different authorities to create a more accurate local plan. It will allow the investment plans for networks and local authorities to be jointly analysed to identify possible synergies.

As well as WPD, the consortium consists of Wales and West Utilities, Power Systems Consultants (PSC), as well as consultants Regen and EA Technology.

Regen will lead on determining how the different planning processes can be aligned so that plans are based on a common view.

By modelling the the impact of local plans on networks, the tool will identify the location and timings of required investments to support the predicted energy consumption. The investments will be assessed to optimise the potential benefits to all parties and will be further assessed on whether the combined plans will deliver additional benefits versus the separate processes currently used.

PSC will provide a new tool for automated high voltage network assessment and EA Technology will be adapting their network investment forecasting tool to analyse the low voltage networks in the trial areas.

While strategic network planning, including stakeholder engagement, is routine for the networks operating at or over 33kV, it is hoped that modelling the high and low voltage networks will provide results that reflect changes at a local neighbourhood level that are easier for local authorities to relate to their own plans.

The project is expected to last until December 2022.

Jenny Woodruff, low carbon and innovation engineer at WPD and project lead, said: “EPIC, is exploring whether we can streamline and standardise the local energy plan process and whether it will result in benefits for local authorities and utility companies.

“The project will hopefully lead to the greater use of local authority data in utility company investment plans and allow networks to take a more strategic view for future investment plans.”

Wales and West Utilities’ system operation manager, Bethan Winter, said: “If the UK is going to get to net zero in a way that is affordable and sustainable, we must adopt a whole system approach, making the best use of our safe and reliable gas and electricity networks.

“Across the UK decarbonisation solutions will be different, so a local approach is essential if communities are going to be able to play their part in decarbonisation.

“We’re pleased to be part of the EPIC project, bringing together utilities and local authorities to create a combined approach to energy planning.”