28/01/2025
RSUA met today with Belfast City Council Climate Commissioner Debbie Caldwell to learn more about the Belfast Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Debbie gave an overview of how Belfast City Council plan to utilise the LAEP, introduced in September 2024, to transition the city towards a resilient, low-carbon future. This strategy aims to meet the Council’s reduction targets of 66% by 2025, 80% by 2030, and Net Zero by 2050.
The LAEP makes a strategic case for decarbonising Belfast’s local energy system and outlines a pipeline of five priority projects: a District Heat Network, Building Retrofit Programmes, Rooftop Solar PV, Solar Carports with Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, and the transition of households using oil to low-carbon heating solutions.
The plan also considers mechanisms to decarbonise heat networks, reduce fuel poverty, and utilise sources of wasted heat.
The first phase of delivery will focus on public sector buildings, incentivising initial investment to enable the rollout of phase two, which will target residential areas.
You can view Debbie’s presentation here.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the LAEP, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk
