Issue - meetings

To receive an update from the Greater London Authority on the ongoing work to understand and mitigate electrical supply constraints in West London; and discuss and inform next steps.

The Board are asked to note that Molly Strauss (Head of Infrastructure, Greater London Authority) has been invited to attend for this item.

The Chair welcomed Molly Strauss (Head of Infrastructure Greater London Authority) to the meeting and invited her to introduce a report updating the Board on the work being undertaken to understand and mitigate electrical supply constraints across the West London region, being led through the GLA in collaboration with West London Alliance boroughs.

The report was accompanied by a presentation at the meeting, with the following key issues highlighted:

·             The background and context to the work being undertaken to address electricity capacity issues across the region, given the impact of a number of large scale developments on the electricity distribution network operated by local supply networks and the transmission network operated by National Grid.  Whilst the transmission network was currently scheduled for upgrade in 2037, the GLA had already facilitated a range of short and medium-term solutions to alleviate constraints so that housing and decarbonisation technologies (e.g. electric vehicle charge points) could secure connections in the interim.

·             As part of the approach identified, the Mayor had funded development of a subregional Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) in collaboration with West London Alliance (WLA) boroughs, working alongside two other boroughs and Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).  The LAEPs were designed to translate Net Zero targets into on-the-ground action and provide a key input into the design of electricity network planning and investment processes across the areas covered.  The West London subregional LAEP had been the first rolled out in London and had led to the introduction of a number of other Mayoral funded subregional LAEPs across London (supported by London Councils).

·             The LAEPs had been developed to provide a whole system approach in seeking to join up energy sources and consumers, break down silos and connect physical requirements with policy, market and digital systems.  Boroughs were encouraged to adapt and take forward the key actions and outputs identified, based on the specific make up of their areas and supported by the GLA, including delivery of potential funding support through the Zero Carbon Accelerator (ZCA).

·             Key outputs identified as needing to be addressed through the West London subregional LAEP had included the ongoing anticipated increase in electricity demand being driven through housing, commercial and also data centre development across the region in addition to the roll out of low carbon technologies such as heat pumps and Electric Vehicle Charging points; the need to enhance performance in relation to the energy rating performance of domestic building stock including opportunities to retrofit and target new buildings through effective planning policy; the need to address electrical grid constraints; the need to consider the opportunities available to establish heat networks across the region based on areas of viable demand and also the need to consider the potential options to increase use of solar PV generation.

·             Following completion of the first phase of the West London subregional LAEP seven work packages had been identified to progress at subregional level.  These reflected key themes in terms of decarbonisation of major energy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6