Green Summit 2026: The way we use energy is changing

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In one of our guest blogs for the Greater Manchester Green Summit, SP Electricity North West discuss a new training programme helping North West local authorities build the skills and knowledge needed to plan and deliver Local Area Energy Plans.

Renewable energy and low carbon technologies are being integrated into our homes and businesses at a rapid pace and our ambitions are growing for how we generate, transport and use energy.

Local authorities across the North West are being challenged to support customers to gain more control over the way they generate and use electricity, and are developing Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) to shape how that looks.

This is why we’re so excited that our Distribution System Operation (DSO) team and Manchester-based sustainability consultancy, Green Economy, have launched an innovative new three-part training programme to boost knowledge and strengthen skills for local authorities.

Empower: upskilling for local energy planning will build on existing knowledge to increase confidence and understanding of the wider energy industry with this training:

  • Part one: An introduction to energy literacy (90 minutes, online): On-demand foundational training covering energy networks, distribution network operator roles, key technologies, and interpreting high-level energy data. Designed to build baseline understanding and support senior buy-in.
  • Part two: Build your LAEP (one day, in-person): Practical training for authorities developing a LAEP, including use of templates, spatial data, cost modelling, and action planning to improve coordination and viability.
  • Part three: Deliver your LAEP (one day, in-person): Focused on implementation, strengthening investment cases, updating LAEPs with current data, stakeholder engagement and project/site appraisal to unlock funding and accelerate delivery.

LAEPs give critical insights to us as a network operator by enabling future planning and forecasting of energy use across the region and for informing Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES). So if you want to know more, please visit us at enwl.co.uk/GreenSummit and help us, help you get started.

Take action…

To make a big change, we must all take small actions. Becoming greener and making an impact is easier than you might think. We have put together a range of blogs, articles, toolkits and checklists to help you make a start.

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Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

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Kat Mulhall, Victoria Baths Trust, Manchester

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