There are approximately 2,000 off-grid properties across the UK that are without access to both electricity and gas mains/grid connections. People living in such homes face a range of socio-economic challenges.
As network operators across the UK strive to hit net zero targets, additional considerations must be made as to how these off-grid properties can be effectively decarbonised.
This project aimed to provide network operators the insight required to plan and justify future developments and understand how they could work in practice. This included reviewing relevant policy and regulation, exploring the physical, social and cultural nature of off-grid living and assessing potential decarbonisation solutions alongside the barriers to their delivery.
The Challenge
Off-grid communities often include ‘hard to treat’ properties; with location, building type and occupant needs limiting the installation of cost-effective low-carbon solutions. These homes can be expensive to heat, increasing the risk of fuel poverty and making it harder for residents to access the benefits of the net zero transition.
The residential sector produces a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions and off-grid homes are responsible for a significant part of them. While all properties must be decarbonised by 2050, the path for these hard to treat households remains unclear – creating both an environmental and social challenge.
Energy networks have recommended that a whole-community approach is essential for areas off grid, rather than individual home interventions.
The Journey
The project set out to look beyond technical feasibility, aiming to understand the full picture of decarbonising off-grid communities. It considered not only cost and engineering challenges, but also the social, cultural and practical realities of the people who live in these homes. This meant designing solutions that could be reliable, sustainable and acceptable to occupants.
The work began with targeted engagement in Northumberland, the north Yorkshire moors and north Lincolnshire, before including additional communities. This allowed the team to capture a diverse range of household experiences. In total, approximately 30 households provided valuable insights into energy use, efficiency measures and perceptions of potential low-carbon options.
Additionally, input from energy networks, local authorities and community representatives contributed to shaping realistic future scenarios for these areas. This process:
- Identified current and emerging policy and regulatory frameworks
- Assessed all potential decarbonisation solutions
- Evaluated barriers from technical, financial, geographical and cultural perspectives.
The findings informed a set of recommendations centred on whole-community solutions.
The Resolution
The project produced key outputs including a literature review, qualitative findings and a full report synthesising the insights. A concise policy and brief is also being developed for stakeholders.
These outputs were positively received by network companies, who found the customer-focused insights valuable in shaping low-carbon technology advice and broader decarbonisation strategies.
Whilst the project didn’t advance technology readiness levels, it identified opportunities for further research.
The project highlighted potential benefits in the following areas:
- Socially, it focused on reducing fuel poverty risk and ensuring off-grid communities are fairly treated during the net zero transition through tailored solutions
- Financially, it highlighted ways to reduce energy costs, share infrastructure expenses and guide targeted investment
- Environmentally, the project targeted a community responsible for a portion of residential emissions, exploring ways to integrate local resources and the use of sustainable transport.
What’s Next?
The project’s findings will give network operators the evidence and insight they need to plan future network developments that effectively support off-grid communities on their journey to net zero. The focus remains on delivering solutions that are efficient, practical and socially responsible.
An event will soon bring together a wide range of stakeholders to share these insights, gather feedback and explore potential next steps. There are ambitions for a potential next phase that would shift focus to urban areas and examine decarbonisation costs, customer willingness-to-pay for alternative technologies.