We are delighted to announce that City Science has been commissioned by Neath Port Talbot Council (NPTC) to undertake a comprehensive Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Assessment (RLCEA) for their administrative area. This vital project will inform the council’s Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) 2023-2038 and support NPTC’s ambitious personal goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and the county-wide goal of reaching net zero by 2050.
Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Assessment
The RLCEA will provide a robust evidence base to guide the integration of renewable and low carbon energy strategies into local planning policies. It will play a crucial role in identifying and implementing policy changes necessary to achieve NPTC’s climate emergency declaration made in September 2022. Additionally, the assessment will contribute to the preparation of background evidence, policies and proposals for the first South West Wales Strategic Development Plan (SDP).
Project Objectives
The primary objectives of this project are to:
- Quantify existing renewable energy resources and potential within the county
- Identify opportunities for future renewable and low carbon energy development
- Assess the viability of district heating at strategic sites
- Propose evidence-based renewable energy targets for inclusion in the RLDP
- Recommend suitable policies to support renewable and low carbon energy development
- Create an energy opportunities plan to guide future actions for local stakeholders
Outcomes of the Report
To deliver these objectives, City Science will undertake the following work packages:
- Policy Review and Methodology Development: We will review relevant policy documents, supporting strategies and key energy statistics to ensure our approach aligns with local and national objectives. A detailed methodology will be prepared for each subsequent task.
- County-wide Renewable Energy Assessment: This comprehensive assessment will quantify the existing renewable energy infrastructure and determine the total technical potential for renewable energy in the county. Technologies to be assessed include onshore wind, solar PV, biomass, energy from waste, anaerobic digestion, marine hydropower and land-based hydropower.
- Building Integrated Renewables (BIR) Update: We will assess the potential for integrating renewable technologies into new and existing buildings, focusing on roof-mounted solar PV and heat pumps.
- Heat Opportunities Mapping: Utilising our advanced heat mapping techniques, we will identify areas suitable for district heating networks and other low carbon heating solutions.
- Strategic Site Viability Appraisal: We will conduct detailed viability assessments for up to 15 strategic development sites, considering renewable energy potential, grid constraints and connection opportunities.
- Identification of Suitable Areas for Stand-alone Renewable Energy: Building on the county-wide assessment, we will identify and map areas particularly suitable for larger-scale renewable energy developments.
- Renewable Energy Targets and Policy Recommendations: Based on our findings, we will propose evidence-based renewable energy targets for inclusion in the RLDP and recommend suitable policies to support their achievement.
- Energy Opportunities Plan: We will create a visual, spatial depiction of renewable and low carbon energy opportunities across the county, identifying further actions for local authorities, public sector bodies and wider stakeholders.
City Science will leverage our extensive experience in energy modelling, GIS capabilities and stakeholder engagement to deliver this project. We will utilise our award-winning Cadence 360 platform to provide a visually compelling and interactive evidence base that can be easily shared with stakeholders and the public.
We are excited to work closely with Neath Port Talbot Council on this important project, which will play a crucial role in shaping the region’s sustainable energy future and supporting its journey towards net zero.