Aberdeenshire Council LHEES

Summary of Stage 7 Strategy

Introduction

Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) are at the heart of a place based, locally-led and tailored approach to the heat transition. The aim of LHEES is to provide a long-term and evidence-based plan for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving their energy efficiency across an entire local authority area. LHEES are primarily driven by Scotland’s statutory targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and fuel poverty: 

  • Net zero emissions by 2045 and 75% reduction by 2030 

  • In 2040, as far as reasonably possible, no household in Scotland is in fuel poverty 

This StoryMap provides a summary of the work completed by Aberdeenshire Council and Changeworks up to and including LHEES Stage 7. LHEES has a two-part structure, consisting of a strategy and a delivery plan

  • The LHEES Stage 7 Strategy is a long-term strategic framework for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving energy efficiency across Aberdeenshire, framed around the six considerations outlined below. 
  • The LHEES Stage 8 Delivery Plan sets out how Aberdeenshire Council will implement its strategy over the next five years. It enables the council to work towards delivery of the changes identified in the strategy and clarifies the role and responsibilities of stakeholders. 

Table 1: National LHEES Considerations

The national LHEES guidance frames the strategy around six considerations relating to heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency. They are used to identify and target interventions in different parts of the building stock. The six considerations are outlined in Table 1. 


Current Building Stock

This section provides an overview of the building stock in Aberdeenshire. This baseline allows the Council to create an effective strategy and to measure progress towards targets and the ultimate target of net zero by 2045.  

Aberdeenshire Council Key Domestic Stock Figures

Fuel poverty driven by high energy costs is exacerbated in off-gas grid areas due to the higher relative cost of heating oil, solid fuels or LPG compared with mains gas.

According to the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS), the percentage of households likely to be in fuel poverty in Aberdeenshire is 25% which is in line with the Scottish average. The percentage anticipated to be in extreme fuel poverty is 15% which is a little above the Scottish average of 12%. See table 2 below.

Table 2: Scottish House Condition Survey 2017-19 fuel poverty rates across Aberdeenshire and Scotland

Domestic Building Stock

Non-domestic Building Stock

Aberdeenshire Council Key Non-Domestic Stock Figures


Council Priorities

Aberdeenshire Council's key priorities form the foundation of this strategy and delivery plan. They were developed from national and local policies and strategies, working with internal and external stakeholders and data analysis.

Aberdeenshire Council has identified four priorities for the first LHEES; 

Priority 1: Improve building energy efficiency to reduce energy demand.

Priority 2: Increase uptake of low and zero carbon heating technologies across the area.

Priority 3: Reduce fuel poverty within Aberdeenshire.

Priority 4: Increase awareness of available information related to decarbonisation and energy efficiency.


Improving building energy efficiency.

The following maps support Priority 1: improving building energy efficiency.

Improvement in energy efficiency of domestic and non-domestic buildings is required across Aberdeenshire. This is necessary to ensure national targets for specific building groups are achieved within the relevant timeframe, contributing proportionately to the national targets set while recognising applicable challenges.

Energy efficiency measures help reduce heat demand, which should lower costs to maintain comfort within the building.

As part of the Aberdeenshire Delivery Plan development, further analysis and engagement will be done.

This will enable further prioritisation of zones which will help achieve the best return on our priorities as well as ensuring that the statistics are up to date.


Heat Networks

The following maps directly support Priority 2: Increase uptake of low and zero carbon heating technologies across the area.

Part of the low and zero carbon heating technologies for both non-domestic and domestic buildings could be covered by heat networks. These are systems that supply heat (or cooling) to multiple buildings from one heat source.

Heat networks are a heat supply technology which deliver heat to multiple properties. Heat can be supplied by a range of different technologies. This could include heat generated from boilers (gas or biomass fired, combined heat and power (CHP), or from heat pumps.

Having one system supplying the thermal needs for multiple buildings removes the requirement for individual boilers in each property. These systems are also known as district heating.

Existing Heat Networks

There is a significant number of existing small heat networks throughout Aberdeenshire.

A significant heat network can be found in Banchory. It is a privately run, biomass system with gas back up. The system serves around 250 dwellings, a sports centre and 7 other businesses.

Existing Heat Networks in Aberdeenshire

Any potential to expand or fully switch to decarbonised heat sources will be explored in the detailed delivery plan.

Potential Heat Networks

LHEES guidance uses linear heat density, buffer zones and anchor load numbers to identify the heat network potential of an area.

14 potential zones have been identified using this criterion. These potential zones are spread across Aberdeenshire in the towns of Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Inverurie, Alford, Westhill, Portlethen, Banchory, Stonehaven and Laurencekirk.

Further analysis and engagement will need to be done to further identify priority heat network zones.

  • Further work with external stakeholders and other public body organisations is essential regarding possible anchor load buildings in any potential heat network zones.
  • Investing and funding opportunities will need to be explored regarding progressing heat networks, particularly for potentially fuel poor areas.
  • Engage with local communities to improve understanding and acceptance of potential heat network opportunities through community partners and council teams.

Reducing fuel poverty

The following map supports Priority 3; To reduce fuel poverty within Aberdeenshire. This priority will reduce the number of people in the area at risk of or experiencing fuel poverty

There will be a transition to more energy efficient homes, reducing energy input required to maintain comfort. To ensure that poor building energy efficiency is removed as a driver of fuel poverty.

This priority highlights the requirement for this strategy to have positive impacts that close the fuel poverty gap, improving comfort and health and wellbeing for all.

This will be through lowering fuel requirements with energy efficiency improvements and aiming for affordable warmth for all.

Further work is needed to understand optimum insultation methods for all building types. To ensure that measures are done to the relevant standard to enable use of lower temperature zero carbon heating systems, which will not deepen fuel poverty. We will continue to liaise with national partners with specialist knowledge to ensure that actions are supported.


Next Steps

Aberdeenshire Council's LHEES was developed with input from key stakeholders and the Delivery Plan, once developed in detail, will direct the changes required for the building stock across the area.

It will identify various options for decarbonisation and inform where investment in infrastructure is needed to support mass change of heating across the area.

Following consultation and adoption by the Council, the Strategy and Delivery Plan will be published online. It must be appreciated that this strategy is a flexible and live document.

The development of the detailed Delivery Plan will continue throughout 2024, highlighting the top actions to make progress on the key priorities highlighted.

It is a statutory duty for local authorities to update their LHEES every five years. Aberdeenshire Council anticipate that the Delivery Plan will have continuous amendments throughout the time frame.


Table 1: National LHEES Considerations

Table 2: Scottish House Condition Survey 2017-19 fuel poverty rates across Aberdeenshire and Scotland