Unlocking Clean Energy in Greater Manchester

Local authorities developing their own renewable energy projects can run into difficulties with lack of specialist knowledge.

Local Partnerships was commissioned by Energy Systems Catapult as part of the UCEGM project to provide capacity and technical expertise including supporting power purchase agreements, grid connections and cable routes, procurement support and advice, and identifying and advising on risks and constraints.

Outcomes & Benefits

Our interventions provided the following to keep local authorities projects on track:

• Market intelligence and insights relating to constraints in the construction supply chain and identification of additional routes to market
• Clarification on the potential benefits of private wire connections direct to customers and support to identify suitable customers
• Development and sharing of a tracker for planning conditions
• Advice on sourcing and specifying specialist technical support for project implementation and ongoing maintenance
• Sharing of lessons learned across the 10 GMCA councils

UCEGM is a pioneering scheme designed to deliver a number of renewable energy projects across the Greater Manchester City Region and create a blueprint that can be replicated in other regions across the UK aiming for Net Zero carbon emissions.

Unlocking Clean Energy in Greater Manchester Guidance

The guidance addresses challenges faced by local authorities, such as rising energy costs and the need for effective energy management policies. It emphasises the importance of forecasting, developing energy management policies, and understanding energy purchasing strategies. Use our forecasting tool to assist energy managers in predicting future energy consumption. The document highlights the impact of global events on energy prices, the significance of energy security, and the shift towards renewable energy to meet net zero targets. Funding options for energy efficiency projects are discussed, including recommendations from the Mission Zero initiative.