Collaborate to Accelerate Net Zero

Leicestershire CAN (Collaborate to Accelerate Net Zero) is a £2.56m Demonstrator dedicated to accelerating Leicestershire’s journey to net zero emissions.

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It is focussed on a whole-systems approach to decarbonisation and breaking down non-technical barriers to the delivery of net zero – to enable accelerated delivery of projects, through harnessing the collective power of collaborative working.

The aim is to create a sustainable environment for coordinated and impactful net zero delivery across Leicestershire.

The project is designed to address the complex challenges associated with reducing emissions and demonstrate to other local authorities in the UK a replicable approach that they too can follow and learn from.

Leicestershire CAN coordinators and delivery partners

The Demonstrator brings together a unique and diverse combination of partners across the public and private sectors, academic institutions and community energy groups, including:

Leicestershire CAN is further supported by Leicester City Council, Green Living Leicestershire and the Midlands Net Zero Hub.

The project’s collective expertise span across various sectors, enabling the Demonstrator to take a holistic approach to addressing challenges with the co-ordination and delivery of net zero across the county.

Get involved

Leicestershire CAN has been designed to enable flexibility in its approach to delivery. As the Demonstrator develops, opportunities to get involved will be advertised across our partner networks and summarised on this page.

If you have any ideas on how you can support us, or how we can work together on our journey to Net Zero, we’d like to hear from you. Get in touch:

Online enquiry form

Aims and benefits of the project

Leicestershire CAN is expected to transform the trajectory of carbon reduction across the county, with benefits continuing long after the project’s completion and have a lasting impact on Leicestershire’s journey towards net zero.

The benefits include:

  • Implementation of an effective collaborative structure to enable and mobilise cross-sector net zero delivery.
  • Identification of cost effective and technically sound approach to decarbonisation, helping to tackle 6.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions across Leicester and Leicestershire.
  • Creating capacity for net zero delivery through the formation of at least 6 new community energy groups, capable of leveraging community and government finance.
  • Support delivery of the universities' and other local stakeholders' commitments to net zero and sustainability.
  • Implementation of an Advisory Service which is self-sustaining post funding due to flexible nature of content and ability to access and leverage funding from complementary schemes and signpost to local, regional and national resources

The Demonstrator aims to achieve this through 4 interconnected work packages:

Governance

Developing and piloting models for effective governance to enable cross-sector collaboration, stream-lined decision making and driving forward impactful net zero interventions.

Decarbonisation Pathway Plan

Delivery of an innovative Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) for Leicester and Leicestershire, to provide an open-source and dynamic digital tool for stakeholders to identify and understand required solutions to help reduce carbon emissions.

Find out more about Local Area Energy Planning, through our partners at Energy Systems Catapult.

Community Energy

Building up community energy capacity across Leicestershire, supporting a network of new community energy organisations to accelerate the delivery of  locally driven low carbon projects.

Find out more about Community Energy, through our partner at Green Fox Community Energy Co-operative.

Advisory Service

Development of a digital repository and service to provide a suite of resources, information and support for stakeholders, ensuring they have the necessary tools and knowledge to contribute to the delivery of net zero in Leicestershire.

Leicestershire CAN is funded by Innovate UK

Leicestershire CAN is funded by Innovate UK, as part of their Net Zero Living Programme.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency working to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations.

Innovate UK's Net Zero Living Programme is a £60 million, 3 year programme that aims to help places and businesses across the UK to accelerate the delivery of the transition to net zero.

Find out more about the Net Zero Living Programme through Innovate UK.