This report is intended to be read in conjunction with the suite of guidance documents that the Hub has previously prepared or commissioned and does not replace or supersede any such guidance document. Where we are aware of a guidance document prepared by the Hub that already covers an area of relevance to this report we will refer to that guidance document rather than duplicating the information here.

Please note that the report states the current legal position at the time of writing and therefore advice should always be sought from the Hub prior to implementation of a low carbon strategy.

The Government's commitment to Carbon Net-Zero by 2050, with significant changes impacting housing and transport by 2030, means that the UK will need to undergo significant changes in the way communities, use, buy and sell energy in order to meet these changes. At the time of writing this report, the UK is caught in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, which commentators consider will bring with it a potential "market reset", with issues of social value, public sector intervention and green energy at the heart of many policies identified to help kick start or "re-boot" the economy.

In this changing market place, it's clear that local authorities will have a role to play in bringing forward the low-carbon economy on a local and national basis. This is demonstrable in e-mobility where local authorities, alongside the Office of Low Emission Vehicles are investing heavily in public and taxi charging infrastructure . Commentators anticipate that as the UK emerges from Covid-19, that such initiatives will gain greater momentum as the community and behavioural change will see a greater shift in investment in technologies and industries where it sees longer term benefits to society and the environment. This is a good example of how public sector may help bring forward energy infrastructure and supply where there may be, for the time being, less market engagement, but clear longer term benefits and payback.