A low carbon future for the West Yorkshire borough of Calderdale has been set out in an ambitious new plan that identifies the key priorities needed for the borough to reach its net zero by 2038 target and how that transition can benefit local people.
Compiled by global climate tech company, IES, using its digital twin technology, the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) identified changes to the borough’s buildings and energy generation needed to hit the net zero target. The move sees Calderdale become the first Local Authority in West Yorkshire to deliver a LAEP and the only one currently using digital twin technology.
Calderdale Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and met its 2020 target of reducing carbon emissions by 40 per cent. The borough is home to over 200,000 residents and borders Greater Manchester to the west, Bradford to the east, and Huddersfield to the south. Among its principal towns are Halifax, Brighouse, and Hebden Bridge.
Key changes identified by the Local Area Energy Plan are:
Building efficiency
Retrofitting insulation to over 75,000 homes at a cost of £300m would unlock savings of £50m per year and reduce annual electricity demand by 359GWh.
Heat decarbonisation
Replacing fossil fuel heating systems in 100,000 residential and commercial buildings with low carbon alternatives at an approximate cost of £1.34bn would result in carbon savings of 250,000 tonnes CO2e per year.
Renewable energy generation
A net zero future will mean Calderdale’s electricity consumption would double to 1600GWh per year. A blend of microgeneration through solar, battery storage, and other low carbon electricity sources would be required, along with smart grid upgrades. The rollout of solar alone, in suitable and moderately suitable locations, is estimated to cost just under £500m.
Transport
Almost 38 per cent of the borough’s carbon emissions are derived from transport. It is estimated that over 2,100 public charging points for electric vehicles will be required.
Grid infrastructure
Upgrades will be required at all levels of the network, including upgrading existing grid supply points, constructing new substations, and re-laying/resizing some cables. This work is estimated to require a £40m investment.
The cumulative investment would unlock a green jobs bonanza in the borough, with 3,000 skilled workers needed to deliver the changes required and to provide ongoing maintenance.
IES’ Project Lead for the Calderdale LAEP, Nick Purshouse, said: “IES’ digital twin technology has been instrumental in delivering Calderdale’s Local Area Energy Plan. It provides a comprehensive, visual model of every building in the area, allowing us to test various low-carbon scenarios with scientific accuracy. Our tool not only provides a solid evidence base for decision-making but also enables ongoing monitoring and evaluation of progress.
“It’s charted the path to achieve net-zero by 2038, providing both the confidence and detailed understanding that Calderdale needs to take effective action.”
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, added: “Calderdale met its 2020 target of reducing carbon emissions by 40 per cent, but the borough has bigger, long-term ambitions when it comes to decarbonisation, as part of our priority for climate action. To deliver on our net zero targets, we needed a clear plan informed by data to ensure the decisions we make about energy generation are as effective and sustainable as possible.
“As the first borough in West Yorkshire to use intelligent digital twin technology to inform a LAEP, we’re proud to be setting a positive example for other authorities looking to drive forward their decarbonisation journey. IES provided us with robust data and actionable insights to ensure our plans drive forward our long-term vision.”
The LAEP was launched on 1 November at a major event convened by Calderdale Council, ‘From Insight to Action: Local Solutions to Net Zero’. The next stage for the council will be to work out how to deliver it by developing business cases for priority projects and working with key stakeholders and trusted partners. Collaboration between local government and businesses alike will be key to ensuring success in implementing the LAEP.
The event was attended by a range of public and private sector leaders in the environment and sustainability sector. It was sponsored by Northern Powergrid and showcased some of the work taking place in Calderdale to tackle the climate emergency. From local area energy planning to retrofit projects and policy work, the borough is unlocking barriers to make net zero a reality. The event was also supported by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and UK100.
