Belfast Net Zero Pathfinder

Belfast City Council (BCC) have commissioned two strategic energy masterplans for the local area to achieve a cost effective and socially just net zero energy system whilst realising co-benefits for the local stakeholders.

1.Belfast Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP)

2.Queens Island Decarbonisation Plan (QIDB)

These plans are innovative because they take a whole energy system approach and provide recommendations for decarbonisation pathway planning. The interventions that make up the decarbonisation pathway are often met with non-technical barriers to implementation. For example, a heat network may be difficult to secure the commercial arrangements for off-takers or a renewable generation project may experience land ownership issues.

This project will overcome a range of non-technical barriers help BCC to move viable interventions recommended by energy masterplans into delivery projects. BCC and Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) will examine two of the priority interventions recommended by the energy masterplans and validate the non- technical barriers presented. This will include assessing any conflicts or compatibility issues with other masterplans (e.g. housing development plans, transport plans, utility network plans etc).

To overcome the low maturity/ readiness of the market to progress net zero innovation, the project will include a market readiness assessment of the two priority interventions which will include a heat network and a solar PV renewable power project. This will provide an understanding of the readiness of market actors (potential off-takers, investors, supply chain stakeholders etc) to engage and deliver decarbonisation projects.

The project will then identify potential business models that might support their deployment and assess the most appropriate role for BCC to catalyse and enable the projects. This will address the lack of business model clarity (e.g. off-taker arrangements) that can often deter investors.

Further work will define the optimum legal and commercial arrangements for the projects to proceed and identify routes to finance as well as exploring how to combine/layer various and innovative forms of financing with the chosen business model. This will enhance the capacity of BCC to engage the private sector in developing and delivering complex clean energy projects.The project will also build capacity of local stakeholders to take forward LAEP / QIDP outputs embedding this expertise across key local anchor institutions. The work will also include an assessment of opportunities to upskill and empower excluded groups and communities through consultation and engagement as well as an assessment of the economic, environmental and social impacts of the interventions.