The publication of the Realising Net Zero Liverpool (RNZL) final report marks an important milestone, not just for Liverpool, but for how towns and cities across the UK can move from ambition to action.
Over the past two years, RNZL has brought together a local authority team, a network operator, academic institutions and investment partners to explore practical ways of turning net zero ambitions into deliverable projects at city scale.
The lessons developed through the programme are directly relevant to local authorities looking to understand future energy demand, identify infrastructure requirements and build evidence-based plans for decarbonisation.
At its heart, the programme recognised a challenge many places face today: achieving net zero is no longer simply about identifying the right technologies. It is about bringing together the data, planning, investment and partnerships needed to deliver change at scale.
Moving from ambition to delivery
RNZL set out to explore how different parts of the energy system interact at a local level, bringing together work on the electricity network, low-carbon heat, transport, retrofit and investment planning.
Rather than looking at each challenge in isolation, the programme took an integrated, ground up approach, starting with a detailed analysis of the existing electricity network and then overlaying the potential deployment of low-carbon technologies and flexibility.
This provided more granular understanding of how different decarbonisation strategies could interact with the network, where constraints could emerge and where flexibility could help make better use of existing infrastructure. Importantly, the goal was not only to support Liverpool's decarbonisation ambitions, but also to create learning and approaches that could help other local authorities facing similar challenges.
Bringing network insight into the conversation
For SP Energy Networks, RNZL demonstrated the value of bringing network insight and expertise into local planning conversations at an early stage. This was a departure from more traditional deployment forecasting-led approaches used in many local energy strategies. Rather than starting with assumptions about future technology uptake and translating these into future demand, RNZL used network analysis as the foundation for exploring how and where LCTs could be deployed.
The approach also helped identify not only where additional infrastructure may be required, but where flexibility and local assets could help manage demand, unlock capacity and potentially create additional value to strengthen the investment case for net zero projects.
This brought future infrastructure requirements, decarbonisation ambitions and commercial opportunities into the same conversation – giving partners greater insight into where investment may be needed and where local assets and flexibility could potentially generate revenue and support wider decarbonisation objectives.
Working alongside Liverpool City Council and project partners, we supported access to data, network modelling and flexibility expertise to help inform local planning and build a better understanding of how future energy demands could affect the network and where opportunities may exist.
In doing so, RNZL helped create a stronger evidence base for decision-making, giving Liverpool City Council greater visibility of future network requirements and helping partners explore practical pathways for delivering decarbonisation informed by both infrastructure needs and commercial opportunities.
Dave Wakelin, Head of Sustainability and Net Zero, Liverpool City Council said: “Having SPEN’s involvement in the RNZL project has been fundamental. Their sharing of network data and insights enabled the project to create the technical exemplars through which we were able to analyse network constraints and together develop potential solutions and funding streams.
We enjoy a true partnership which continues through Liverpool City Council’s registration on SPEN’s flexibility platform and via the recently launched FOMo innovation project. RNZL has deepened the collaboration between Liverpool City Council and SPEN, allowing us to align our strategic priorities across the city”.
What we've learned
One of the strongest messages to emerge from RNZL is that successful net zero delivery depends on collaboration, not just technology.
Technology will continue to play a critical role, but delivery is often shaped by wider factors such as access to data, joined-up planning, investment readiness and stakeholder engagement. Programmes like RNZL show that bringing together local authorities, network operators, businesses, investors and communities can help create a more complete picture of the opportunities and challenges ahead.
The programme also highlighted the importance of flexibility as part of the future energy system. While flexibility is not a replacement for network reinforcement, it can provide another tool to help manage demand, unlock value from local assets and support more efficient use of the network.
Perhaps most importantly, RNZL demonstrated the value of considering potential revenue streams alongside decarbonisation opportunities, helping partners explore how commercial value could contribute towards the cost of delivering the transition.
Rebecca Kannreuther, Senior Energy System Specialist at SP Energy Networks said: "RNZL has shown the value of bringing network insight, local ambition and practical collaboration together from the outset. By working closely with Liverpool City Council and project partners, we've been able to explore how strategic planning, data, and flexibility can help support informed decision-making and create a stronger foundation for net zero delivery. The lessons from this programme extend well beyond Liverpool and can help support other local authorities as they plan for the future."
What happens next?
While the programme has now formally concluded, its value lies in how the learning is applied.
The final report, toolkit and wider outputs provide a foundation that Liverpool and other local authorities can build on as they plan for a lower-carbon future. The lessons developed through RNZL can help organisations move more confidently from strategy into delivery, informed by practical experience and real-world evidence.
We continue to work with our RNZL partners on the Flexibility Origination Module Project (FOMo), funded through the Network Innovation Allowance (NIA). Building on learning from RNZL, the project will explore how digital tools and data can help organisations better understand the flexibility available within their buildings and assets, making it easier to identify opportunities, unlock potential revenue streams and participate in flexibility markets. It will also help improve visibility of flexibility potential across the network, supporting more informed planning and investment decisions.
As local authorities continue to navigate the transition to net zero, access to robust network insight, strategic planning support and practical experience will become increasingly important. RNZL has shown the value of bringing those elements together early and the benefits that can be unlocked through collaboration.
Whether you're at the early stages of developing your approach or progressing a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) or Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES), early collaboration can help build a clearer understanding of future network requirements, identify flexibility opportunities and strengthen the evidence base for investment decisions.
To find out how SP Energy Networks can support your planning activities, contact our Strategic Optimisation team at strategicoptimisation@spenergynetworks.co.uk
For more information on Realising Net Zero Liverpool (RNZL) visit – About RNZL - Liverpool City Council and Realising Net Zero Liverpool (RNZL) City-Wide Toolkit