As part of our peer exchange webinar we will hear from Cardiff Council, Cornwall Council and Leicester's De Montfort University on their experience of running a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP).
On this page you can find out more about their LAEPs, the challenges they faced and how National Grid DSO supported them to find solutions.
Cardiff Council’s Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) sets out a pathway towards a net zero energy system by 2050. The One Planet Cardiff Annual Review 2025 and Green Growth Proposition builds on this by focusing investment and delivery on renewable energy generation, home retrofit and community participation.
Cardiff must reduce emissions while addressing energy affordability, building efficiency, transport and energy resilience. At least 91,000 of the city’s approximately 158,700 homes are estimated to require energy-efficiency improvements to enable the city to reach net zero. The Council also identifies the need for additional renewable energy capacity and external investment.
Cardiff’s LAEP provides a coordinated energy roadmap towards 2050, including:
The Council's approved Green Growth Proposition translates these broad LAEP goals into a focussed short-to-medium tern action plan focussing on innovative ways to upscale domestic retrofit activity and developing a clear prospectus of renewable and low carbon energy opportunities.
National Grid DSO has supported Cardiff Council throughout the development of the LAEP, providing input and expertise across all seven stages of the planning process.
This support has helped ensure that the plan is informed by an understanding of the electricity network, its future capacity requirements and the opportunities and challenges associated with decarbonisation.
Following the development of the LAEP, National Grid DSO has continued to support Cardiff Council in translating its ambitions into action through subsequent decarbonisation planning. This has included facilitating connection surgeries to provide bespoke connection advice and information, as well as providing network data to inform project development. Together, this ongoing support has helped Cardiff Council move from strategic energy planning towards practical delivery of its decarbonisation ambitions.
“Our Green Growth Proposition sets out a practical plan to accelerate renewable energy generation and expand home retrofitting—steps that can reduce energy bills and help cut the cost of living.”
— Councillor Dan De’Ath, Cardiff Council
Cardiff’s LAEP provides the long-term energy roadmap; the Green Growth Proposition identifies practical programmes to deliver it. The next opportunity is to bring councils, communities, energy networks and investors together to accelerate retrofit, renewable generation and resilient local energy infrastructure.
For more information, visit www.oneplanetcardiff.co.uk
"Our future energy system will be cleaner, more affordable and resilient, retaining the social and economic benefits of the transition in the region"
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), developed jointly between Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly, sets out a long‑term pathway for transforming the region’s energy system to be cleaner, more affordable and more resilient. Informed by over 4,000 contributions from residents, businesses and community organisations, the LAEP identifies the infrastructure, technologies and partnerships required to support Cornwall’s transition to net zero while strengthening local energy security.
The Plan builds on Cornwall’s unique renewable strengths—deep geothermal, solar, biomethane and floating offshore wind — and provides an evidence base that demonstrates a co-ordinated local approach to energy decarbonisation which can guide investment, delivery and collaboration across the local energy system.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly face a combination of energy affordability pressures and rural infrastructure constraints in its journey to decarbonise heating, transport and electricity systems.
The region needs to:
Cornwall’s LAEP provides a comprehensive, collaborative and community‑informed roadmap for a future energy system that is clean, affordable and resilient.
Key elements include:
National Grid DSO supported Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly throughout the development of the LAEP, contributing network insight, data and technical expertise across the planning process.
This collaboration ensured that the LAEP is grounded in a clear understanding of:
Following publication of the LAEP, National Grid DSO continues to support through their ongoing stakeholder groups. This includes;
This partnership strengthens Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s ability to plan and deliver a resilient, future‑ready energy system.
For more information, visit: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/laep
Leicestershire Collaborate to Accelerate Net Zero (LCAN) was a £2.56 million Innovate UK Demonstrator project creating a whole-system approach to net zero. It brought together local authorities, communities, universities and energy partners to develop practical, locally led solutions that can be replicated by other councils. Following the end of the programme, contributors are now exploring opportunities to deliver the Local Area Energy Plan, build on pilot projects, and keep the momentuem going that a large funded programme brings to a local area.
Leicestershire’s complex, multi-tier local government structure can make coordinated net zero delivery difficult. The energy transition also requires non-government stakeholders to collaborate and bring expertise, such as universities, network operators and industry. Communities and organisations also need better data, skills, funding and innovation to develop and deliver effective low-carbon projects.
LCAN combined:
The LCAN programme closed in February 2026. The Universities Partnership for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR), comprising three local universities and local government partners, is now taking on the role of convening stakeholders to drive forward opportunities to deliver clean energy projects locally. This is an innovative approach to regional governance and collaboration, due in part to there not yet being a Mayoral Strategic Authority to steer regional energy project collaboration across LLR.
The DSO have been a key stakeholder in the LCAN programme at scoping stages, through to current delivery of the LAEP. The role of the DSO during the programme has included:
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