Delivering trusted local retrofit advice at scale

PEC led the Far South West Retrofit Consortium Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) project, which delivered in-person, locally tailored energy advice across Devon and Cornwall.

This was a partnership with five other regional community energy organisations and was funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, managed by the South West Net Zero Hub.

In just 18 months (from September 2023 - March 2025), the project delivered retrofit advice to almost 3,000 households across Devon and Cornwall, which resulted in over 650 homes installing energy efficiency upgrades.

The project addressed a key barrier to uptake of retrofit measures - low public trust. Advice was often seen as too technical or impersonal. By contrast, the LEAD project enabled local organisations to provide personalised guidance, helping residents understand their options and giving them confidence to act.

However, while interest in home energy upgrades is high, action remains limited without trusted support. We believe that combining local, tailored advice with practical follow-on support can turn interest into action at scale.

Read more about the project in our LEAD summary report.

The Far South West Retrofit Consortium comprised six community energy organisations in partnership with
Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council:

361 Energy CIC - North Devon and Torridge
Community Energy Plus - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
ECOE Advice - Exeter, Torbay mid and east Devon
Plymouth Energy Community - Plymouth
South Dartmoor Community Energy - South Hams
Tamar Energy Community - Tavistock and West Devon