Carmarthenshire Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP)
Like all counties in Wales, Carmarthenshire has a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP). This is an innovative and ambitious plan that sets out how our county could transition to a net zero energy system by 2050. The plan has been developed with key local stakeholders, including businesses and community groups, in recognition that reducing our carbon emissions requires support and contribution from all our local communities. The plan covers all the different elements of our energy system such as generation, transport, building energy efficiency and heating, energy networks and industry.
The LAEP objectives include the need to promote cost effective solutions for energy generation, distribution and storage whilst reducing carbon emissions. This plan should also enhance energy security and resilience, reduce the costs of energy and help plan the infrastructure that will meet the future needs of our communities.
The plans show how the overall energy consumption of the county will decrease as fossil fuel boilers and combustion engines are replaced with more energy efficient technology like heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs). This will increase the demand for electricity hence the need for a significant increase in renewable generation.
Despite the challenges, a net zero energy system can stimulate economic development and job creation through the growth of local clean/green energy jobs, help address fuel poverty and deliver other wider community benefits, such as reduced air pollution.
What Can I Do At Home?
To help Carmarthenshire decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of your home you can:
- Improve the insulation of your home to reduce energy demand
- Install energy efficient lights and appliances
- Switch from gas or oil to greener alternatives such as a heat pump
- Install an EV charger to enable the switch to an electric vehicle
- Install solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and also a battery to store generated energy
- Install a Smart meter to enable you to take advantage of tariffs which reward you for using energy outside of peak demand
- Install solar thermal panels to provide hot water
These measures could also save you money on your energy bills:
What can I do at Work?
Develop a carbon reduction plan to help reduce your workplace’s carbon emissions by identifying emissions sources, setting reduction targets, and implementing actions to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A carbon reduction plan will look at:
- your transport and how you can transition to low and zero emission vehicles
- how you manage waste
- the energy efficiency of your buildings
- where your energy comes from
- responsible sourcing of goods and services from your supply chain
What Can My Community Do?
Get together with your neighbours to form a community group
There are community groups that:
- Install solar panels, Electric Vehicle chargers and batteries at community buildings to reduce running costs or provide income
- Install wind turbines to provide cheaper energy for members and benefits for the local community
- Provide energy advice and retrofit advice for their local community
- Campaign for active travel routes
- Provide car-sharing opportunities
Search your local area for an existing Community Energy Group where you could purchase cheaper renewable energy or get energy advice.
Opportunities and Benefits
Networks:
The LAEP supports the grid operators to be able to plan investment and unlock capacity to enable the timely connection of new renewable generation projects and the general increase in demand for electricity needed to meet Net Zero.
Building Energy Efficiency:
By improving the insulation and appropriate ventilation of our buildings, we can make them easier and cheaper to heat and healthier to live in. Retrofitting our homes and buildings will create jobs and boost the local economy.
Building Heating:
Carmarthenshire will require the mass replacement of current heating technologies in domestic properties (mainly gas and oil boilers) with decarbonised alternatives to reach net zero, such as electric heat pumps and in some urban areas heat networks. Again, there are huge opportunities for the local supply chain as long as we upskill our region’s workforce to take advantage.
Each of these areas of intervention will require a significant amount of public and private investment for Carmarthenshire’s energy system to reach Net Zero by 2050.
