“Zak’s attention to detail and expertise in providing evidence-based research was fantastic – he gave us great insights and key points to continue to monitor.”
Lewis Garvey, Net Zero Planning & Technologies Manager, WWU
Wales and West Utilities
Energy Systems Planning Research – Wales and West Utilities
One of the Cultivate team, Zak, who is undertaking an Engineering Doctorate, worked with Wales and West Utilities (WWU) as part of a wider research project exploring the impact of energy planning practices in Wales. This work examined the implications for the gas network of heat pump deployment targets enshrined with Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP). It generated insights that will inform the development of WWU’s own energy system planning.
Activities undertaken
- An analysis of the heat pump deployment rates required to meet ambitious LAEP targets
- Developed a PowerBI dashboard to track technology deployment progress against those targets
- Published a report summarising the heat pump deployment analysis, and exploring the challenges associated with achieving the required scale and pace of rollout. Heat Pump Deployment in Wales
- A series of employee interviews capturing perspectives on energy planning, providing insights into the impacts of ongoing changes to planning processes
Client Testimonial
Lewis Garvey, Net Zero Planning & Technologies Manager, WWU.
“I had worked with Mike, Cultivate’s founder, on a previous project, FLEXIS, during its later stages in 2023. We continued conversations after the development of the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) programme in Wales, looking at how WWU could assess and digest the information, providing tangible measuring points for future planning.
“We were then introduced to Zak, who came in through a sponsored placement – taking the time to really dive into the plans and carry out some robust and independent research. His expertise gave perspective and routes forward to keep tracking the impact of these plans, supporting the future design of the gas network.”