London Energy Partnership

Energy Action Areas & Low Carbon Zones
In the Mayor's 2004 Energy Strategy, the LEP was tasked with setting up Energy Action Areas to act as exemplar low carbon developments in London. Four pilot EAAs were set up in 2005 to demonstrate how to deliver low-carbon urban developments that incorporate renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. In 2008, Boris Johnson announced a new initiative to create 10 Low Carbon Zones (LCZs). We are currently exploring how the 4 pilot EEAs can be transformed into LCZs. Further details about the LCZ initiative will be announced soon.

Energy Action Areas (2005) (PDF, 847 KB) brochure

Developing an Energy Action Area: a beginners guide
This explains what an Energy Action Area is, how to select an area and appropriate technologies for that area, what the key steps are, what the delivery mechanisms might be, how to fund it and how to build support for the project. It draws on the work conducted in existing pilot Energy Action Areas, in particular Barking Town Centre and lessons learnt through working through the problems and issues that are faced.
Guide to Developing an Energy Action Area (2006) (PDF, 1.28 MB)

Making ESCos Work (2007)
This report provides guidance and advice to those considering setting up and delivering an Energy Services Company, with particular reference to the pilot Energy Action Aeras in London. It compiles the knowledge of legislative, regulatory and commercial issues from early pioneers, considering models operating in London and elsewhere in the UK and internationally.
Making Energy Service Companies Work: Guidance and Advice on Setting Up and Delivering an ESCO (PDF, 1.24 MB)

Barking Town Centre Energy Action Area Implementation Plan
The London Energy Partnership’s Energy Action Area initiative was proposed in the Mayor’s Energy Strategy in January 2004 and launched by the Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, and Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, in July 2005. Barking Town Centre is one of just four areas in London to be selected by the London Energy Partnership for this status. As a new initiative there is little experience of how the status might be translated into reality for an area of London. This report is intended to set out that information in detail, and in effect provides a route map for the implementation of an Energy Action Area in Barking Town Centre. On the back of this work, the London Energy Partnership produced a general 'Guide to Becoming an Energy Action Area' which is available elsewhere on this site.
Barking Town Centre Energy Action Area Implementation Plan (PDF, 1.05 MB)

A Guide to the Barking Town Centre Energy Action Area
The Implementation Plan for Barking Town Centre Energy Action Area sets out a strategy for reducing carbon emissions generated by new developments by one third compared to emissions generated by developments built to current building regulations. This will translate to a carbon dioxide saving of 6,590 tonnes per year. These carbon savings will be achieved through the connection of new developments to a town centre community heating network - also known as district heating - and on-site generation of electricity by renewable energy technologies such as smallscale wind turbines and photovoltaics (PVs). This Guide was produced by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham for distribution amongst developers involved in the town centre regeneration.
A Guide to the Barking Town Centre Energy Action Area (PDF, 846 KB)

Towards Zero Carbon Development (2006)
'Toward Zero Carbon Developments - Supportive Information for Boroughs' includes practical advice about how local authorities can use their powers to encourage zero carbon development. It includes a definition of zero carbon development and offers information about site characteristics, example text for Local Development Frameworks, an overview of key arguments to use in discussion with developers, and lessons learnt and pitfalls to avoid when taking forward proposed developments. A number of case studies are available in the Annex.
Towards Zero Carbon Developments (PDF, 2.49 MB)

Energy Action Area conference: working towards low carbon developments
In October 2005 a conference was held as part of the London Energy Partnership’s programme to pilot Energy Action Areas (EAA) in London.

The conference gave an overview of the EEA pilots and positioning these as examples of current best practice. A series of interactive workshops explored some of the most challenging issues facing public authorities and the commercial sector with regard to energy issues. These included: Financing and ESCOs for Sustainable Energy; Sustainable Energy in the Community; Planning for Sustainable Energy Developments, and Issues for Implementing Distributed Generation.

London Energy Partnership Review of Energy Action Area Pilot Programme June 2008 (DOC, 508 KB)