Accelerate progress towards a net zero world

NIA SSEN 0071 Regional Energy System Optimisation Planning (RESOP)

Key Activities

This project is a follow on in a series of associated previous projects including Whole System Growth Scenario Modelling (NIA_SSEN_0030) and Whole System Growth Scenario Modelling Phase 2 (https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/nia_ssen_0043/). These projects have developed a methodology for digital local area energy planning on a whole system basis, and undertake the following activities:

Develop the Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator (LENZA) tool, so that it can be used to create digital Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs).
Work with Scottish Local Authorities (LAs) and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to geographically display locations of potential Heat Networks.
Make LENZA available to all Local Authorities within SSEN’s network area to increase testing, bug fix and feature requests e.g. forecasting functionality so that it becomes Business as Usual (BaU) ready.

Expected Benefits

The main expected project outcome is to enable LENZA to create digital LAEPs at a higher granularity and greater accuracy than current methods used by consultants and to enable all Local Authorities within SSEN’s geography to make use of this functionality for improved investment planning.

Progress

Significant progress has been achieved to date including:

Winchester Council has begun work on the UK’s first digital LAEP;
DESNZ Heat Network data being trialled with Winchester Council as part of the Digital LAEP; for Sustainable Energy (CSE) have replicated the DESNZ Heat Network data methodology for all of Scotland to be used by LAs;
PowerFactory and LENZA have been integrated and testing of the API continues;
LENZA has been offered to all LAs in SSEN network areas and is being used by >90% of them; and
Regen have created a detailed methodology on how LENZA data can support DFES submissions.