Belfast City Council launches first plan to reach net-zero
Belfast City Council has launched its first plan to reach net-zero. Its Local Area Energy Plan is the first developed in Northern Ireland and includes a pipeline of projects that will cut both energy costs and emissions in the city.
They include a district heat network, large scale retrofit of buildings, transition of oil households to low carbon heating and deployment of solar panels.
Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, chair of the council's Climate and City Resilience Committee, said: "Now that Belfast has a detailed plan to reach net zero, next comes the commitment and investment required across the sector to ensure we can all thrive in a net zero future."
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The LAEP marks a milestone in the city's transition towards a resilient, low-carbon economy for everyone. According to the council it was developed using cutting edge whole-system modelling and capitalises on unique city assets like the Sherwood Sandstone beneath Belfast, providing huge geothermal potential and an abundance of rooftops to generate solar energy.
Cllr Donnelly added: "The Belfast Local Area Energy Plan marks the beginning of a new chapter for Belfast's energy system by championing collaboration and the collective action needed to address the climate crisis. As the city sets its sights on a low-carbon, energy-efficient future for everyone, this plan can unify key stakeholders in a shared endeavour allowing Belfast to become a leader in the journey to net zero.
"With strong commitments from both the public and private sectors to work together on these critical initiatives, the LAEP can ensure that the benefits of this transition are shared widely across Belfast."
As part of the launch, Belfast City Council also announced the formation of a Net Zero Belfast Delivery Group to provide oversight and strategic direction for the delivery of the plan. It is also partnering with Energy Systems Catapult as part of the Belfast Net Zero Pathfinder Project, to progress two major decarbonization projects which the council was recently awarded £150,000 of Innovate UK funding to develop.
Click here find out more and access a copy of the Belfast Local Area Energy Plan.
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