ADD2705 Advisory Services to develop a data-driven, place-based approach to delivering net zero projects across London.

1.1.    The GLA’s digital energy assets (Solar Opportunity Map, London Building Stock Model, London Heat Map) and the future Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) Data Hub are key enablers to deliver a place-based approach to retrofit and buildings decarbonisation, both for the domestic and commercial sectors and to achieve the Mayor’s 2030 Net Zero targets.
1.2.    These digital tools already inform GLA Environment and Energy programmes (e.g., Warmer Homes) as well as our partner activity across London (for example, boroughs delivering retrofit programmes and LAEPs) but better coordination and improved visibility is required to enable a data-driven net zero transition in London.  
1.3.    As a strategic planning authority, the GLA has a key role to play in curating and broadening access to London wide energy datasets to support local authorities, households, businesses, anchor institutions and other London-based organisations in their net zero journey, from strategy to delivery. 
1.4.    Once opportunities for retrofit, decarbonisation and electrification in specific locations have been identified through data-driven approaches, our strategic partnerships (e.g. with London Councils) and existing programmes (e.g. Energy Advice London, Warmer Homes, Zero Carbon Accelerators, etc.) can help support the delivery of net zero projects.
1.5.    The London Office for Technology and Innovation (LOTI) will work with the GLA Energy Unit to identify a series of data products that the GLA is best placed to curate and manage, in order to empower Londoners and London-based organisations in their net zero journey. 
1.6.    LOTI will also assess the likely effort and budget required to run each data project, supporting the creation of an investment case for delivery in FY 24-25 – this will help the GLA Energy Unit prioritise the highest impact and most cost-effective initiatives.
1.7.    This Assistant Director Decision form seeks approval for funding this research project. The award of £24,800 to the London Office for Technology and Innovation (LOTI) would enable it to carry out research and stakeholder engagement to identify a series of data products that the GLA is best placed to curate and operate, in order to provide impartial and trusted information to public sector organisations, anchor institutions, Londoners and businesses to empower them in their net zero journey
 

2.1.     The research will achieve the following interrelated objectives:
•    facilitating a better use of GLA-owned datasets and applications to inform a place-based approach to building retrofit and decarbonisation
•    ensuring GLA-owned data are used to implement a place-based approach to net zero programmes delivery
•    providing Londoners/businesses/boroughs with greater access to trusted GLA-owned data to inform their own net zero journey.
Proposed outcomes and outputs
2.2.    The LOTI research project will look into the GLA’s energy-related datasets and engage with relevant stakeholders (e.g. boroughs, anchor institutions, business, resident groups etc.) to understand their needs in order to establish a list of possible interventions that the GLA could implement as a strategic authority. 
2.3.    Having identified the range of specific user needs, LOTI will review existing GLA datasets to understand how these could be mobilised to address different users’ requirements. 
2.4.    For any interventions where user needs are not currently being met, LOTI will help representatives from each user group sketch what data product(s) would be needed to support them in their net zero journey. This might be a heatmap, a list, a dashboard, an alert, etc. For each data product, LOTI will investigate if this product can be created using GLA data assets. 
2.5.    LOTI is expected to deliver the following outputs as part of this project:
•    an assessment of the likely effort and budget required to run each data project, supporting the creation of an investment case for delivery in FY 24-25
•    a strategic view of which datasets are most fundamental for delivering net zero projects
•    a hierarchy of outcomes, data product and data requirements that will provide clarity on which project and initiatives could be taken forward in the next financial year, and in what order of priority.

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the GLA is subject to the public sector equality duty and must have due regard to the need to: 
•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation 
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristics and those who do not 
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not  
3.2.    Protected characteristics under section 4 of the Equality Act are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sex orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status (all except the last being “relevant” protected characteristics).
3.3.    The GLA will take appropriate steps to ensure that there are no potential negative impacts for those with protected characteristics from these pieces of work.
3.4.    Appointed contractors will have a duty to ensure they comply with the GLA’s Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and enable the GLA’s to fulfil its duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. 

Resourcing needs

Key risks and issues

4.1.    This project will help build an evidence base that directly supports the priorities of the London Partnership Board, and specifically its Green New Deal mission, which aims to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and improve air quality, while doubling the size of London’s green economy.
4.2.    They will also contribute to achieving a broad range of objectives, policy and proposals in the London Environment Strategy and the Mayor’s Pathways to Net Zero by 2030, as set out below:
•    Objective 6.1 – reduce emissions of London’s homes and workplaces while protecting the most vulnerable by tackling fuel poverty
o    Proposal 6.1.1a – contribute to helping Londoners improve the energy-efficiency of their homes, where appropriate, by providing technical assistance, support and funding  
o    Proposal 6.1.1b – pilot innovative methods to implement the stronger energy-efficiency retrofitting needed 
•    Policy 6.1.3 – improve the energy efficiency of London’s workplaces and support the transition to low carbon heating and power
o    Proposal 6.1.3.b – support the reduction of emissions and energy use within the commercial sector, including through improved building management, energy efficiency and reporting
•    Policy 6.2.1 – delivering more decentralised energy in London
o    Proposal 6.2.1b – increase the amount of solar generation in London including through community energy projects and on GLA Group buildings
•    Objective 10.1: enable the transition to a low-carbon circular economy, including:
o    Policy 10.1.1 – to build on London’s strengths and grow the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector
o    Policy 10.1.2 – to build on London’s strengths and enable London’s businesses, academia and citizens to actively compete in and contribute to the low-carbon circular economy
Governance
4.3.    LOTI will report to the GLA Energy Unit’s relevant project teams on performance against output delivery on a weekly basis.
Conflict of interest
4.4.    There are no conflicts of interest to note for any of the officers involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision form.

5.1.    Approval is requested for expenditure of up to £24,800 grant funding to the London Office for Technology and Innovation (LOTI) to provide research and support services to the Energy Unit.
5.2.    This expenditure will be funded from within the Warmer Homes revenue budget within the Environment Unit’s approved budget for 2023-24 financial year. 
5.3.    All expenditure will be incurred by 31 March 2024.