PACE (Powering Access to Clean Energy) is an innovation project that will develop and evaluate a coordinated, place-based approach to accelerating the adoption of low carbon technologies (LCTs) while improving network readiness for the energy transition. The project will generate real-world evidence on how Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) could take a more proactive role in enabling decarbonisation, particularly within communities where barriers to participation remain high. 
The project will bring together customer prioritisation, network planning, proactive network interventions and coordinated technology deployment at a neighbourhood level. This includes exploring how data-driven identification of priority locations, targeted engagement, and network activities such as proactive de-looping and network readiness works can be aligned to support more efficient uptake of low carbon technologies and improve customer outcomes. 

Benefits

Expected Benefits 
PACE is expected to generate evidence of benefits across customer, network, operational and strategic dimensions, helping to determine whether a coordinated, place-based approach can accelerate decarbonisation while delivering better outcomes for customers and the electricity system. 
Customer Benefits 
The project is expected to improve access to LCTs, particularly for households that may otherwise face barriers to participation in the energy transition. The project expects that participating households receiving solar PV and battery storage could realise average annual energy bill savings of approximately £715 per year, alongside wider wellbeing benefits associated with improved financial resilience and greater control over household energy costs.  
Network Benefits 
PACE will assess whether combining proactive heat readiness assessments, targeted de-looping, fuse upgrades and coordinated low carbon technology deployment can increase the number of homes capable of adopting electrified technologies while making better use of existing network capacity.  
Operational Benefits 
The project will investigate whether neighbourhood-based delivery can reduce the cost of preparing networks for electrification. Analysis indicates that proactive, street-by-street delivery could reduce the cost of de-looping activities by around 50%, alongside further efficiencies from coordinated fuse upgrades, planning activities and customer engagement.  
Environmental Benefits 
By enabling greater adoption of LCTs and increasing the use of locally generated renewable electricity, the project will contribute to carbon reduction and support wider Net Zero objectives. The trial will quantify the scale of these benefits and improve understanding of their long term value.  
Strategic and Regulatory Benefits 
A key project output will be robust evidence on the role that DNOs can play in enabling coordinated, place-based decarbonisation. The learning generated will inform future operating models, commercial arrangements, consumer protections and regulatory frameworks, supporting future decision making.