Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Area Energy Plan
Latest news:
Community conversations have been held across Cornwall to talk about the Local Area Energy Plan and our energy future. Supported by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Commission(External link):
- Community Conversations allow residents to have their say on issues which are important to them and their community. The independently prepared report can be read here alongside the full suggested action list from across all of the conversations.
- Young people’s views: conversations with young people about the Plan were held. More information can be read here.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Area Energy Plan
More than 4,000 individuals and representatives from organisations helped shape the development of a plan looking at 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 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 builds 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.
How was the Plan was developed?
We listened to the views and ideas of organisations and residents during 2023 and 2024.
Early engagement to let residents know the plan was being developed and to hear different views and ideas to support the development of the Plan 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.
We also 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
We also heard from residents:
Residents’ Energy Panel (Cornwall): to ensure the Plan reflects and addresses the needs, concerns and perceived opportunities of local residents. The 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 is available to read (Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Area Energy Plan - Cornwall Report and Actions - Cornwall)).
A summary report is also available -CIOS Local Area Energy Plan Summary Report.
Taking action to deliver the Plan
Since the Plan was published the following action has been taken:
- Further engagement with residents supported by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Climate Commission(External link):
- Community Conversations have been held across Cornwall. Community Conversations allow residents to have their say on issues which are important to them and their community. The independently prepared report can be read here alongside the full suggested action list from across all of the conversations.
- Young people’s views: conversations with young people about the Plan were held. More information can be read here.
- A key group of LAEP representatives from different sectors meet to provide information about what is happening across the energy system locally.
- Cornwall Council has reviewed its own climate and nature response based upon the LAEP evidence base and current government policy. It has refreshed its own climate action plan: Cornwall Council Climate and Energy Action Plan(External link). This takes those LAEP actions that the Council is responsible for delivering and provides more detail about what they are and when they will be developed. The Climate and Energy Action Plan shows how the Council will support delivery of the LAEP.
The Isles of Scilly:
The Isles of Scilly LAEP chapter and actions were approved at a Council of the Isles of Scilly meeting (November 2025).
How can I get involved?
Information about further Community Conversations about energy and the Local Area Energy Plan can be found here(External link).
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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.