The Local Energy Hub initiative was launched by BEIS in 2018, following its successful Local Energy Programme which offered all LEPs funding to develop regional energy strategies. The five Local Energy Hubs were financed with a £4.8mn grant to set up, in their region, a coordinator backed by teams with technical, legal and financial expertise in the energy sector. They are tasked with providing practical support to LEPs and LAs to support the development of priority energy projects, up to the point of financeability. 

The Greater South East Energy Hub (GSEEH) has approached Cornwall Insight (CI) to compile a summary overview of the options available to Local Authorities (LAs) in buying or producing their own power needs.

This is not a comprehensive summary and nor does it make recommendations for an LA, but provides a condensed summary of six high level options available to LAs, summarising:

• The approach and process taken
• The relative strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each option (a SWOT analysis)
• The key risks associated with each option at the time of writing
• Other points relevant to the decision-making process and some examples of each option

The paper covers

• Open market and collective purchase
• Corporate PPAs
• LA Ownership of Assets
• JV Asset Development
• Purchasing Developed Assets
• Land Leasing Options

There is also a glossary at the rear to explain technical phrases and acronyms.

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