Oxfordshire council wins award for native space power mapping challenge

Oxfordshire County Council has received a nationwide award for its position in a challenge that it says might revolutionise the best way power is produced and used within the UK.

The council received the award for the very best local weather motion and decarbonisation initiative on the latest Affiliation for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Service Awards 2023.

It was recognised for its power insights software and power flexibility trials, efficiently demonstrating the essential position native authorities can play in shifting away from the usage of polluting fossil fuels. The work fashioned a part of the Native Vitality Oxfordshire scheme – also referred to as Venture LEO.

Venture LEO, is described as an bold, broad reaching, collaborative power demonstrator scheme. It has offered a blueprint for a greener, extra versatile and fairer electrical energy system for the UK sooner or later.

The council led the event of a strategic power mapping platform developed with business accomplice Superior Infrastructure Know-how Ltd  to assist native space power planning and offered property, together with buildings, to take part within the flexibility trials.

Venture Lead Inga Doherty, Oxfordshire County Council’s Local weather Coverage and Programme Staff Chief, stated: “We have been delighted to choose up the APSE award for finest local weather motion and decarbonisation initiative. The power mapping platform is already contributing to decarbonisation work throughout the county and will likely be used to develop a sturdy, properly knowledgeable, native power plan for Oxfordshire.

“We additionally demonstrated how council property can contribute to a transition to a internet zero power system. It’s improbable to guide on initiatives that assist us transfer over to cleaner power that bit sooner and to have our work recognised by APSE.”

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cupboard Member for Local weather Change and Atmosphere, stated the work “has documented the trail to a nationwide system that we want by the early 2030s.”

The power mapping platform was examined by Oxfordshire’s metropolis and district councils, and builds upon Superior Infrastructure’s LAEP+ (Native Space Vitality Planner Plus) platform, offering a spatial image of how and the place power is used throughout the county and informs the place adjustments are wanted to allow the transition to internet zero.

A wealth of information was offered via a collaboration with Vitality Programs Catapult – a not-for-profit centre of excellence that bridges the hole between business, authorities, academia and analysis.

It has already been used to tell the rollout of electrical automobile charging infrastructure and establish areas appropriate for inclusion in retrofit programmes to make buildings extra power environment friendly.

Will probably be key to growing a neighborhood space power plan that identifies alternatives to scale back demand, maximise the usage of the county’s present power infrastructure and scale up renewable era.

Mo Baines, APSE Chief Government, stated: “We obtained over 300 submissions for the awards this yr, with each demonstrating a transparent dedication to the targets of steady enchancment and the supply of excellence in public companies.

“On behalf of everybody at APSE, I want to congratulate every certainly one of our unimaginable finalists – you’re a credit score to the communities you serve.”

Lily Cairns Haylor, Head of Product and Co-founder at Superior Infrastructure stated: “In transitioning to a internet zero power system, the LEO LAEP+ power insights software has demonstrated its outstanding worth in saving time and assets whereas pinpointing optimum areas and timing for the deployment of low-carbon applied sciences, together with EV cost factors.  We’re extraordinarily proud to have partnered with Oxfordshire County Council on Venture LEO in our shared mission to decarbonise the native space.”