COUNCILLORS have been updated on progress made by Cumbria local enterprise partnership (CLEP) on net zero in the county.

It was given to members of Cumberland Council’s LEP overview and scrutiny committee at Cumbria House in Carlisle on Tuesday (February 27).

The committee now no longer exists as the council, as well as Westmorland & Furness Council, will be responsible for its function from the beginning of April and Tuesday was its final meeting.

Jo Lappin, CLEP’s chief executive, told members that the focus on net zero had been in two areas – clean energy generation and business de-carbonisation.

She said: “The LEP has a small team that is funded by the North West Net Zero Hub.”

She said that Ernst and Young had completed a Distribution Energy Strategy which assessed Cumbria’s potential for localised clean energy opportunities. According to a report these included:

  • solar;
  • hydro;
  • onshore wind;
  • bio energy;
  • heat networks.

In addition she said that installation work was proceeding at 'Base Camp North' which will create a demonstration facility for a range of solar technologies at their visitor attraction to the west of Penrith.

Ms Lappin said Electricity North West was conducting a storm resilience programme and added: “Cumbria, because of the weather, is one of the most vulnerable areas.”

She also highlighted Project Collette, which is a multi-billion pound project where, while not CLEP’s project, the organisation is engaging with any potential developers.

Councillor Trevor Allison (Dalston and Burgh, Conservative) said that currently there were two large planning applications for battery storage developments and he wondered if this would help with grid capacity?

Ms Lappin said that clearly it was helpful with additional storage and they were currently ongoing discussions with National Grid on the issue.

Cllr Allison wondered whether relaxing planning rules could also help by providing more on shore wind turbines?

Ms Lappin said it was a discussion for local authorities on whether or not the turbines were allowed and added: “I’m sure it creates very strong feelings on either side of the equation.”

Councillor Joseph Ghayouba (Bransty, Labour), the committee chairman, said Project Collette was a key priority for the area outside of nuclear and wondered if there was enough capacity in the grid for the additional projects.

Ms Lappin said at a lower level the responsibility lay with Electricity North West, any higher the responsibility was with the National Grid, and no one would make a new connection to the grid until a project was confirmed because of the cost.

Cllr Ghayouba wondered why Cumbria had missed out on three nuclear projects? Was it the cost or were other areas more suitable?

Ms Lappin said it was probably a question for those who were making the decisions but with Moorside it was due to international finance and the decisions were based on a strong set of criteria.

Members of the committee noted the contents of the report.