Local authorities have the potential to deliver on a range of energy projects from reducing spend on energy supplied to council-owned buildings, to using council owned assets (land and buildings) to generate local power from natural sources and nearby income.
We support local authorities that seek to take an active role in the energy market. Through participation in energy generation, councils can help to provide locally-based alternatives to the Big 6, reduce carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty.
We work with public sector organisations outside London to deliver the National Re:fit Programme, an energy efficiency programme that guarantees substantial financial savings whilst improving the energy efficiency of assets.
We support the Welsh Government to deliver the Green Growth Wales Programme, a pipeline of public sector local renewable energy generation and efficiency projects.
We provide support to the Welsh Government to deliver Welsh Government Energy Services. We work with a wide range of public sector organisations across Wales to grow, de-risk and accelerate the delivery of a pipeline of public sector local renewable energy generation and energy efficiency projects.
We play a critical role in delivering the Welsh Government’s Waste Infrastructure Procurement Programmes, helping meet ambitious recycling and sustainability targets, whilst delivering value for money.
In 2019 – 20 we helped our clients achieve :

Welsh Government Energy Services (WGES) was established in 2018 to provide support to the Welsh public sector to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and increase the amount of renewable energy generated on its estate. It recently broadened its scope following the Welsh Government’s declaration of a climate emergency and ambitions for a carbon neutral public sector by 2030 to include the full transition to an ultra-low emission public sector transport fleet.
As part of our support to WGES we engaged with the senior managers within local authorities, health boards, universities and regional groupings such as the city deals, to raise the ambition and commitment to invest in a range of cleaner, greener and carbon-reducing energy projects. We supported the development of green energy strategies and the planning and delivery of complex energy projects. We provided expert guidance on commercial approaches and effective governance.
We supported the successful procurement of three solar farms on former landfill sites with a combined capacity of 12.5MW. We supported the establishment of an energy sub-group of the North Wales Ambition Board to drive the delivery of low-carbon projects across the region. We supported the development and delivery of solar arrays at two health boards in south west Wales with direct powering of the hospitals via private wires.
We advised on the feasibility of three wind farms in south east Wales with a combined capacity between 20MW and 45MW (depending on land availability). We worked with Cardiff Capital Region on embedding low carbon decision criteria into its £1.2bn investment fund.
To date, WGES has delivered 83 green energy projects that will save or earn the public sector £118m over their project lifetimes and will reduce carbon emissions by about 260,000 tonnes.
For more information about what we have helped our clients achieve, see our 2019-20 impact report.
TESTIMONIALS
Local Partnerships’ work at Wirral has harnessed local knowledge and created a much sharper, focused approach, which is commercially aware and which will result in more homes delivered over the next five years.
Eric Robinson, Chief Executive, Wirral Council
I have found Local Partnerships supportive and knowledegable, particularly on the technical and financial aspects of our street lighting PFI – enabling us to make informed decisions and ensuring that we haven’t wasted effort in these areas on what is a challenging and complex contract change.
Local Partnerships provided excellent support to the Heart of the West LEP. They understood the issues that we are having to deal with and worked with our partners to help align their spatial priorities with the area’s economic plans.
RESOURCES
- Our Impact 2019-20
- Our Impact 2018-19To celebrate our tenth birthday we have launched our 2018-19 impact report, celebrating the successes we have achieved over the…
- Our Impact 2017-18In 2018 we produced our first impact report and we made a commitment to produce one every year. Our impact…
- Powering your energy potentialLocal authorities have the potential to deliver on a range of energy projects: Energy consumption (e.g. by reducing spend on…
- Energy efficient street lighting – reducing energy costs and carbon footprintLocal Partnerships is supporting local authorities to deliver LED street lighting initiatives – successful schemes could deliver up to 80…
- CASE STUDY: Contract review – energy managementNewcastle & North Tyneside Street Lighting
- Local Energy Options – A Guidance Document for Local GovernmentAcross Britain, councils are taking action to boost renewable generation, improve energy security, lower energy bills and support community economies…
Main Contact
Mike Williams
Programme Director – WGES; Air Quality
Mobile: 07920 053 426
Email: mike.williams@localpartnerships.gov.uk
Main Contact
Rachel Toresen-Owuor
Programme Director – Re:fit
Mobile: 07825 963218
Email: rachel.toresen-owuor@localpartnerships.gov.uk
OTHER AREAS OF OUR WORK
HOUSING
INFRASTRUCTURE
CLIMATE
RESPONSE
COMMERCIALISATION AND REORGANISATION
ENERGY
RE:FIT
ASSURANCE
HEALTH AND
SOCIAL CARE
PPP, PFI
AND MIM
WASTE

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