The first LHEES for Moray provides the basis for decarbonising heat in buildings and improving energy efficiency. There’s a legal requirement for local authorities to prepare, publish and review a LHEES and delivery plan every five years.

Moray’s strategy identifies seven local priorities and acts as a platform to empower local communities to participate in a tailored approach to heat transition and locally-led decarbonisation initiatives.

The seven priorities identified for Moray are:

1. Building sustainable and climate resilient communities
2. Maximising knowledge and awareness and ensuring certainty of success
3. A just transition for the energy system
4. Supporting a wellbeing economy, jobs and skills
5. Tackling fuel poverty and improving health
6. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings
7. Decarbonising building heat sources

The delivery plan that sits alongside the strategy will now be actioned through existing resources or, where it can’t be accommodated, additional funding will be applied for.

Speaking after the strategy had been agreed, Moray Council leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “This strategy helps to address the climate emergency by developing plans to reduce carbon emissions from buildings in Moray, including council buildings. There are a number of statutory requirements met via this strategy, however, I’m encouraged that there is also potential for collaborative efforts in Moray to go beyond that. We look forward to working with the key stakeholders in the community who can help make this happen.”

Moray Council’s climate champion, Cllr Draeyk Van Der Hørn, added: “This is an important first step towards improving local heat and energy efficiency in Moray, the first time the council has set out so clearly how it intends to develop this work. I will always say more needs to be done around carbon emissions to tackle the climate emergency but I welcome all plans like this that demonstrate the co-benefits of climate action.”

The local authority has also approved plans to explore investment in solar photovoltaic (PV) to generate electricity from its buildings and cut carbon emissions.

Starting with Elgin Library, HQ Annexe and Ashgrove Depot, Moray Council could generate annual energy savings of around £40,000 with an initial spend of £250,000.

The potential is for the PV to be large enough for the majority of the electricity generated to be used on site. There is also the potential to expand the PV network across other council buildings in future if they’re suitable.

The move could be a spend to save measure and further assessments will be carried out to make sure any savings generated are worth the cost.

Also approved at the same meeting was a switch to LED lighting in council buildings. Starting with HQ, Annexe and Ashgrove depot the phasing out of fluorescent light bulbs and upgrading to LED could save around £600,000 a year as well as contribute to energy efficiency.

The council spent £3.5m on electricity across its estate in 2023/24. The investment of £4.6m in the first phase of upgrades will also improve working conditions for staff and help the council’s progression to net zero.

Cllr Kathleen Robertson said: “This is exactly the type of innovative spend-to-save measures we’re keen to explore further. We need to be creative in how we view future spending within the council but when it ties in with our Net Zero ambitions and has the potential to save on costs in the long run, we absolutely need to be considering projects like this. I’ll look forward to seeing how it progresses.”