Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast

Belfast Local Area Energy Plan

We created the first Local Area Energy Plan in Northern Ireland. Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP) are recognised as the leading method for translating net zero targets into action, identifying the most cost-effective pathways to decarbonise whilst delivering social value for people in local communities.

Led by local government and developed collaboratively with key stakeholders, this comprehensive roadmap outlines the best route for Belfast to transition to clean, renewable energy sources to help achieve the city’s target of net zero by 2050.

Developed using cutting-edge whole-system modelling and extensive stakeholder engagement, it incorporates the region’s unique characteristics including its geothermal resource as well as its biomethane and hydrogen potential which will enable us to move towards a more circular economy that utilises our local assets and resources instead of relying on imported fossil fuels for our energy needs.

The Belfast LAEP presents a pipeline of five priority projects:

• District Heat Network
• Building Retrofit Programmes
• Rooftop Solar PV
• Solar Carports with Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• Transitioning Households Using Oil to Low-Carbon Heating Solutions

Critically, a LAEP identifies the ‘what, where (and how many) and when’.

By being data-driven, it provides an area with a level of detail equivalent to an outline masterplan, resulting in a fully costed, co-ordinated spatial and visual plan, identifying the change that is needed to the local energy system and the built environment.

The Belfast plan provides a strong evidence base that will underpin a series of net zero investments across the city. It demonstrates the collective intent of partners to decarbonise the city whilst also generating jobs and prosperity for people who live and work in Belfast.

The Belfast Local Area Energy Plan is an exciting and crucial initiative for our city's sustainable future. With commitment and collaboration between the council, utilities, businesses, universities and residents, Belfast can become a model for clean energy adoption.

To read the plan, go to Belfast Local Area Energy Plan (link opens in new window).

Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap

We launched a Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast with our Resilience Strategy in December 2020. We developed this as a key partner of the Belfast Climate Commission partner through the Place Based Climate Action Network (PCAN). It is designed to influence the city’s net-zero plans and to inform how we can work towards an ambitious target. 

The roadmap identifies transport, buildings and industry as key sectors to decarbonise. The roadmap was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The project is led by Grantham Institute at LSE with the cities and universities of Leeds, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Read the roadmap (link opens in a new window).