Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Area Energy Plan
More than 4,000 individuals and representatives from organisations have helped shape the development of an ambitious new plan for the future energy systems in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) details the essential elements required to reach a cleaner, more affordable and resilient energy system while retaining the benefits of the transition in the region. The work undertaken to prepare the Plan has included looking at how energy is used, supplied and managed, and to identify the required changes to our local energy systems for heating, electricity, gas and transport to help the region become carbon neutral.
Decarbonising our local energy system represents an opportunity to:
- invest in our future energy infrastructure to unlock green jobs and generate clean growth
- support the expansion of innovative renewables such as floating offshore wind (FLOW)
- build upon our local strengths such as deep geothermal and biomethane from agriculture
- minimise the costs of delivering net-zero through maximising the use of available resources and technologies.
The LAEP will build on the region’s track record in renewable energy innovation and ambitions to build new green industries, such as floating offshore wind and deep geothermal energy. As well as examining the type of technologies and fuels needed, the LAEP proposes changes and additions to existing energy infrastructure and makes recommendations to help secure affordable energy supplies for the future.
Our communities, residents and businesses have been vital in shaping the development of this Plan – and will be a part of helping the vision to become a reality.
The CIOS LAEP was funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) via the South West Net Zero Hub.
What has happened to date?
We have listened to your views and ideas. During 2023 and early 2024 we undertook early engagement with residents and businesses to both let residents know the plan was being developed and to hear different views and ideas to support the development of the Plan. This early engagement included:
- More than 3,700 people submitting their views and opinions about green energy in our opinion survey.
- 6 community roadshow drop-in sessions (and also a Facebook Live event for those who could not attend a roadshow).
- Business engagement: at the Chamber of Commerce Planet Cornwall Conference, a business drop-in session in Bodmin and at the community roadshow on the Isles of Scilly, meetings with key sector groups (Visit Cornwall, Cornwall Manufacturing Group, National Farmers Union, Extractive Industries)
- A Call for Evidence to enable Individuals, groups, and organisations to tell us about their green energy projects.
You can read our report on the initial engagement for more details.
In parallel, we have worked with a wide range of key organisations involved in our energy system to start to shape the Local Area Energy Plan:
- Key stakeholders: energy utility providers National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) and Wales and West Utilities (WWU), South West Net Zero Hub
- Key Sectors: sectors with significant knowledge and/or energy use
- Subject experts: specialised and localised expertise
- Active influencers: active in the energy system and other key organisations
- High energy users/potential: organisations with large current and future energy needs
- Residents’ Energy Panel (Cornwall): to ensure the Local Area Energy Plan reflects and addresses the needs, concerns and perceived opportunities of local residents, a Residents’ Energy Panel met in February and March 2024 to debate potential solutions for decarbonising the region’s energy systems and securing residents’ future energy needs. The selection of the 42 panel members was undertaken by the Sortition Foundation, which specialises in recruiting diverse groups of people to take part in similar panels. For more details, read the Residents Energy Panel report and watch the video (see the link in additional information).
What comes next?
The Cornwall section of the Local Area Energy Plan has been drafted and is now available to read (Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Area Energy Plan Summary Report and Actions (Cornwall)).
The Isles of Scilly section of the summary report and actions will be finalised over the next few months working with the Council of the Isles of Scilly and its stakeholders (more information will be available here in due course).
The next steps, working the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Commission are to:
- Consult with residents about the actions that have been identified in the LAEP to deliver a net zero energy system
- Finalise the priority actions required over the next 5 years and start to implement these actions
How can I get involved?
Watch this space for details of the consultation.
We will also promote the consultation across the local area.
Video - Residents' Energy Panel
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Members of the Cornwall Residents’ Energy Panel met to discuss how to achieve better energy security for the region including looking at how we heat homes, travel and generate energy. The panellists were selected from across Cornwall by the Sortition Foundation which specialises in recruiting locally representative groups of people to give their views on specific topics. They debated the question: How should Cornwall transition to a net zero local energy system? The Cornwall Residents’ Energy Panel is part of the government-funded Local Area Energy Plan being led by Cornwall Council and Council of the Isles of Scilly to make the region’s energy cheaper, more secure and sustainable as well as boosting the green economy.