Deliver a step change in low carbon energy generation

If we want to deliver a step change in low carbon energy generation in the city, we need to:

• Avoid using energy where possible and reduce what we still need through being more efficient. This is so we can lower the amount of energy infrastructure needed for a net zero future
• Switch to renewables or clean energy sources – increasing our local renewable energy capacity as well as signalling demand for national investment in renewable energy supply
• Increase flexibility and storage – to make the most of renewable energy technologies, we need to make our system operate in a smarter more flexible way and this includes storing energy
• Capture or offset the carbon dioxide released by the unavoidable use of fossil fuels to generate energy in order to prevent it reaching the atmosphere

To get to net zero, we need to take a close look at our energy usage. Firstly, we must prioritise cutting out energy consumption altogether through the choices we make. For example: drying washing without a tumble dryer. Then we can reduce how much energy we use (for example. by choosing more energy efficient appliances). Once we’ve cut out all the energy use possible, we need to ensure that what we still consume comes from renewable sources instead, like solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal or clean sources such as nuclear or green hydrogen.

While good progress to increase the share of renewables in our energy mix is being made at a national level, we can also take steps here in Plymouth. Only 7% of the energy used in Devon comes from renewable energy generated here (Devon Carbon Plan). That means our money leaves the county to pay energy companies elsewhere, when we could be creating our own renewable energy, keeping money in our local economy too.

A study for the city by the University of Exeter shows that solar photovoltaic panels (PV) present a major renewable energy opportunity in the city.

Alongside making buildings more efficient, we also need to consider other low carbon energy sources to heat or cool our homes. In some locations, a heat network can power lots of homes much more efficiently than a single gas boiler in every home. Some heat networks can be powered by renewable energy, such as geothermal , or wasted heat sources, which reduces carbon emissions even further.

In 2015, nearly 2,000 homes and 35 commercial and other buildings in Plymouth were connected to heat networks. Since then a heat network links the Devonport Energy from Waste plant to power the dockyard and a new heat network is being built in Millbay and the Civic Centre. Now, a major heat network is planned for Plymouth with funding from the government.

In less populated areas, individual buildings can use air or ground source heat pumps to move away from gas. Finally, power is also needed for our vehicles, industries and commercial activity so we must explore other clean energy sources, such as green hydrogen, where renewable power sources aren’t viable.

We emitted 170,248 tonnes of CO2e from our power in 2022, down by 24,266 tonnes since 2021.

Since 2008, we’ve made good progress, but that’s largely because of the fuel mix of the national grid which supplies our electricity. The National Grid has been successful in shifting away from fossil-fuel based power stations to increased renewable energy.

In 2023/2024, renewables accounted for more than 55% of the UK’s total of electricity generated.

But we still depend on fossil fuels for almost half our electricity supply and our homes are almost all heated by gas. So we still need to do all we can to: increase our renewable energy capacity; reduce our energy consumption; and switch how we heat our homes to lower carbon options.

We can also measure our progress in other ways that show how well we’re doing at increasing renewable energy capacity and replacing fossil fuel energy supplies.

These metrics include: