The software has been developed to help with the planning of cost-effective local energy systems for the UK while the SSH programme aims to create future-proof and economic local heating solutions. The ETI will work with Newcastle City Council, Bridgend County Borough Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to develop the software further and test its output when operating across different locations.
The three locations provide a good representation of different parts of the UK and the feedback from the testing will identify areas of improvement ahead of the software being widely accessible from early 2016.
“Before designing the software we consulted widely with local authorities over their needs for energy planning” said ETI SSH Programme Director Grant Bourhill. “By working in partnership with these local authorities to test the EnergyPath software it will help them to generate multi-decade, multi-vector local energy transition plans specific to their locations. The EnergyPath software will help to identify what technical solutions should be used, where to deploy them and when they should be introduced – effectively creating a long term energy masterplan for a specific local area.”
Mr Bourhill added that ETI will be working with the three authorities to identify how the EnergyPath outputs can exploited in both local and national planning policy, as well as quantifying the economic and social benefits which could accrue from of any of the identified energy transition projects.
Councilor Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Council and Chair of the Greater Manchester Low Carbon Hub Board, said that keeping local residents warm and comfortable, while cutting carbon emissions, is an important strategic goal for Greater Manchester and will help the city rise to the challenge of finding smart ways to heat homes in the future.
Through its inclusion in the programme, GMCA will be at the forefront of insight and research while benefitting from significant investment and practical demonstrations. This will in turn help the city to improve its carbon emissions while having a positive social and economic impact on its communities.
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