Belfast City Council has made a significant stride towards a net-zero future by launching its inaugural Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP). This comprehensive roadmap, a first for Northern Ireland, outlines a strategic approach to transitioning the city to a resilient, low-carbon economy.

Developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and cutting-edge whole-system modelling, the LAEP leverages Belfast's unique geographic advantages. The city's location atop Sherwood Sandstone offers substantial geothermal potential, while numerous rooftops are ideal for solar energy generation.

The plan prioritizes projects such as a district heat network, large-scale building retrofit, transitioning oil households to low-carbon heating, and deploying solar panels. These initiatives will be implemented collaboratively with key stakeholders and supported by local government.

The Belfast LAEP serves as a catalyst for future investment across the sector and beyond. It aligns with other net-zero initiatives in Northern Ireland, including Translink's net-zero bus fleet, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's retrofit program, and the Energising Belfast project. As electricity and gas network operators prepare for large-scale decarbonisation, the LAEP provides a clear pathway to a net-zero future that is both affordable and job-creating.

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Launching the LAEP to public and private sector stakeholders at Belfast’s historic Custom House, Chair of the Belfast City Council Climate and City Resilience Committee, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly welcomed the potential for the new plan to chart effective net zero investments while delivering social value for communities: "Now that Belfast has a detailed plan to reach net zero, next comes the commitment and investment required across the sector to ensure we can all thrive in a net zero future. The Belfast Local Area Energy Plan marks the beginning of a new chapter for Belfast’s energy system by championing collaboration and the collective action needed to address the climate crisis. As the city sets its sights on a low-carbon, energy-efficient future for everyone, this plan can unify key stakeholders in a shared endeavour allowing Belfast to become a leader in the journey to net zero. With strong commitments from both the public and private sectors to work together on these critical initiatives, the LAEP can ensure that the benefits of this transition are shared widely across Belfast."

As part of the launch, Belfast City Council also announced the formation of a Net Zero Belfast Delivery Group to provide oversight and strategic direction for the delivery of the plan. Additionally, Belfast City Council is partnering with Energy Systems Catapult as part of the Belfast Net Zero Pathfinder Project, to progress two major decarbonization projects which the council was recently awarded £150,000 of Innovate UK funding to develop.

To find out more and access a copy of the Belfast Local Area Energy Plan, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/netzero