The Story

Launched in October 2023, the Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator (LENZA) is a geospatial planning platform developed through SSEN Distribution’s Project RESOP (Regional Energy Systems Optimisation Planning), powered by Advanced Infrastructure Technology Limited’s (AITL) LAEP+ software. LENZA provides a digital tool to support users in their strategic energy planning through the digitisation of relevant energy data, assisting Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), Local Authorities (LAs) and other stakeholders to work in collaboration on local energy planning in the route to decarbonisation and net zero.

Using a traffic-light system, it is easy to see what projects are suitable, or unsuitable, and where further development to the network is needed. The LENZA tool will help LAs on their journey to net zero through the accelerated development of local area energy plans, and local heat and energy efficiency strategies. Initial training sessions for LENZA were run with 5 local authorities (Dundee City Council, Perth & Kinross Council, Wiltshire Council, Southampton City Council and Dorset Council) and SSEN plans to use the platform across all network areas.

Dundee’s Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Local Area Energy Plan will both be shown in LENZA’s digital tool, keeping them up to date and providing a live document than can be used to prioritise, and develop projects for delivery. The LENZA platform provides LAs and their delivery partners with information and data around network capacity, building stock, and energy consumption, to be used with modelling tools to support informed decision making. By modelling possible scenarios which consider the whole energy system, evidence-based recommendations can be used in the Council’s energy planning and SSEN’s network planning.

LENZA can be used by the Council to identify areas where different low-carbon projects would be most suitable, considering the current network capacity, for example, where large-scale heat pump installations or rooftop PV and storage would be best suited. It can be used to identify areas where EV chargers can be installed and use a whole systems approach to energy project planning. Such scenario modelling can be useful in the application for funding to assist in the delivery of projects, providing evidence-based data. Using the LENZA platform, LAs can reduce resource and cost associated with traditional investigative works around project suitability.