Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) form the core of a place based locally-led approach to heat decarbonisation. They develop an area-focused strategy for planning and implementing measures for low carbon heating and energy efficiency improvements. The aim of the strategy was to inform, amongst others: the Council, key stakeholders –SP Energy Networks and SGN, Registered Social Landlords, and the Scottish Government on the necessary steps needed for Dumfries and Galloway to meet their net zero goals.
Overview
We successfully delivered Dumfries & Galloway Council’s LHEES to support both their (former) 2025 net zero target and their goal to eliminate fuel poverty by 2040, as far as reasonably possible. Our Strategy sought to establish a local authority-wide plan including priority steps to improve building energy efficiency and decarbonise heat . Our bespoke Delivery Plan was designed to provide a timeline of actions that could be taken for both domestic and non-domestic buildings, and for the development of heat networks.
City Science Response
To ensure continuity with other local authorities within Scotland, we aligned our approach to specific guidance and methodologies required for holistic LHEES delivery. Our key focus areas for the project included:
- Stakeholder engagement (past, present and needed in future)
- Evaluation of the current performance of strategic zones across the area
- Opportunity areas for heat networks
- Strategic long-term plan for building decarbonisation and energy efficiency improvements
Stage 1: Policy Review & Stakeholders: We conducted a comprehensive assessment of existing policies and programmes of work and engaged in a stakeholder mapping exercise to create a list of both core and wider stakeholders for the LHEES process. We then facilitated a wider session to introduce stakeholders to the project and their role.
Stage 2: Data & Tools Library: We used the LHEES methodology’s Data & Tools template to identify and gather key datasets including Home Analytics, Non-Domestic Analytics and the Scotland Heat Map. Through comprehensive cleansing and formatting processes we ensured the data was of highest quality.
Figure 1: Current Age and EPC Rating of Domestic Building Stock
Stage 3: Strategic Zoning and Pathways: We populated the LHEES Baseline Tool to characterise the current energy performance for individual intermediate or data zones across the LHEES Considerations (e.g. Poor Energy Efficiency as a Driver for Fuel Poverty and Off-Gas Grid Buildings). This enabled us to prioritise impact areas and identify key issues/themes for the Council. Relevant stakeholders were engaged throughout this process and we presented our findings in a Council Workshop.
Stage 4: Initial Delivery Areas: We spatially analysed granular building level data to understand the performance of the local authority area against the LHEES Considerations. This enabled us to identify building clusters with similar poor energy efficiency levels, consequently informing Opportunity Areas for action.
Stage 5: Building Level Assessments: We employed the Energy Saving Trust’s Portfolio Energy Assessment Tool to model all individual properties across the local authority, enabling us to analyse the potential for decarbonisation of heating vectors and suitability for retrofit measures. This process entailed extensive data analysis and GIS modelling to spatially determine key areas of focus for each measure. For heat networks, this involved analysing building data to determine areas showing strong potential for a network and engaging with existing or planned networks in the area to identify opportunities for collaboration and support.
Figure 2: Overview of Heat Network Opportunity Zones Across Dumfries using Cadence 360
Stage 6: Finalisation of Delivery Areas: We used data from the Scotland Heat Map and One Scotland Gazetteer to evaluate the potential for district heating networks across the area, including the evaluation of a mass network across Dumfries, tying in the LHEES analysis with plans for existing networks in a single, more cost-effective solution. This stage also entailed a workshop with key stakeholders to consider the previously identified themes and identify potential delivery areas which would be carried forwards after the LHEES publication.
Figure 3: Areas with Heat Network Potential in Stranraer Using Cadence 360.
Outcome
Our Strategy Report summarised the key findings of the LHEES analysis. This included extensive stakeholder engagement, baseline performance, opportunity areas, and long-term plans for building decarbonisation.
Developed collaboratively with key stakeholders, our Delivery Plan offers a flexible, long-term plan for decarbonising heat and boosting energy efficiency. It outlines the priority themes, which incorporate the broader goals and targets across Dumfries and Galloway with their decarbonisation requirements. It provides a clear action plan across Domestic Buildings, Non-Domestic Buildings and Heat Networks in the short-, medium- and long-term which ambitious yet achievable and measurable actions. This includes clear next steps for the Council and their key stakeholders, but also highlights the challenges and additional support which will be needed from the Scottish Government to ensure success in Dumfries and Galloway’s leading net zero ambitions.