SSEN Distribution is the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) responsible for delivering power to over 3.9 million homes and businesses across central southern England and the north of Scotland. We serve some of the most diverse and unique geographies across the UK, and keep customers and communities connected whilst developing the flexible electricity network vital to achieving net zero.
We have committed to providing support to local authorities in our licence areas to develop a coordinated and effective delivery strategy for Whole System and Net Zero initiatives that interact with our network. Our dedicated Net Zero Engagement Specialists support local authorities by providing regular input, network analysis, and whole system thinking to their energy planning. Our Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator (LENZA) tool is a geospatial planning platform that provides local authorities with data and modelling tools that support informed decision making, including information on network capacity, building stock, and energy consumption. LENZA also supports the creation of Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs). Additionally, local authorities can use SSEN’s Open Data Portal to support their LAEP endeavours.
Our Connections team also offers support with applications through connections surgeries and a dedicated Business Relationship Manager for local authorities.
We provide this support to all local authorities that fall within our licence areas (north of Scotland and central southern England).
For local authorities, navigating the path to decarbonisation comes with significant challenges. Many councils grapple with balancing stakeholder interests, overcoming funding barriers, and coordinating across various teams.
Additionally, the complexities of accessing reliable data, and resource constraints often lead to heavy reliance on external consultants, adding time and cost pressures to projects.
The Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator (LENZA) is a net zero planning platform developed by Advanced Infrastructure for SSEN. By streamlining workflows, providing comprehensive datasets, and reducing reliance on external consultants, LENZA enables councils to cut the cost of creating LAEPs by up to 54%. It also aligns local energy goals with SSEN’s strategic network planning, ensuring infrastructure investments support your decarbonisation pathways.
Wiltshire Council has been at the forefront of leveraging LENZA to advance its decarbonisation efforts. As part of the council’s Warm Homes: Local Grant application, LENZA was used to successfully strengthen its bid for funding. By leveraging fuel poverty data, heat demand data and energy performance data to identify areas most in need, the council proposed targeted interventions such as insulation upgrades and heating improvements, ensuring alignment with the funding criteria.
LENZA also allowed the council to quantify how many properties in Wiltshire were likely to be suitable or eligible for the new grant. These insights bolstered the application by clearly demonstrating how the proposed measures would achieve cost savings and carbon reductions, providing a strong business case for the bid.
Various departments have also used the tool to identify sites for EV charge point deployment, retrofit potential and the early development of a Local Area Energy Plan. LENZA’s ability to integrate diverse datasets such as network capacity, building stock, renewable energy potential, and socio-economic factors has allowed these teams to align infrastructure projects with the council’s broader decarbonisation goals. This cross-departmental use has fostered better collaboration and streamlined decision-making across multiple workstreams.
We provide this support to local authorities free of charge.
“We are delighted to be involved in using SSEN's new tool. It is already apparent this will be a real game changer for Dorset's journey to becoming a carbon-neutral county."
"Whether making plans for renewables, designing low-carbon heat projects, or seeking funding for EV chargers, it is an unrivalled source of data and insight. It’s also an excellent example of network operators and local authorities working together on plans to decarbonise local energy and reach net zero.”
Dorset Council
