Oxfordshire County Council has gained 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 gained the award for one of the 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 device and power flexibility trials, efficiently demonstrating the essential position native authorities can play in shifting away from using polluting fossil fuels. The work shaped a part of the Native Power Oxfordshire scheme – also called Challenge LEO.
Challenge LEO, is described as an formidable, 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 industrial associate Superior Infrastructure Know-how Ltd to assist native space power planning and offered belongings, together with buildings, to take part within the flexibility trials.
Challenge Lead Inga Doherty, Oxfordshire County Council’s Local weather Coverage and Programme Crew Chief, mentioned: “We had 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 probably be used to develop a strong, effectively knowledgeable, native power plan for Oxfordshire.
“We additionally demonstrated how council belongings can contribute to a transition to a internet zero power system. It’s incredible 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, mentioned the work “has documented the trail to a nationwide system that we’d like 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 Power Planner Plus) platform, offering a spatial image of how and the place power is used throughout the county and informs the place modifications are wanted to allow the transition to internet zero.
A wealth of information was offered by a collaboration with Power Techniques 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 car charging infrastructure and establish areas appropriate for inclusion in retrofit programmes to make buildings extra power environment friendly.
It will likely be key to creating an area space power plan that identifies alternatives to cut back demand, maximise using the county’s present power infrastructure and scale up renewable technology.
Mo Baines, APSE Chief Government, mentioned: “We acquired over 300 submissions for the awards this yr, with every one demonstrating a transparent dedication to the targets of steady enchancment and the supply of excellence in public providers.
“On behalf of everybody at APSE, I wish to congratulate every considered one of our unbelievable finalists – you’re a credit score to the communities you serve.”
Lily Cairns Haylor, Head of Product and Co-founder at Superior Infrastructure mentioned: “In transitioning to a internet zero power system, the LEO LAEP+ power insights device has demonstrated its outstanding worth in saving time and sources 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 Challenge LEO in our shared mission to decarbonise the native space.”
