New FOI-backed research from Schneider Electric shows English councils are accelerating building electrification and renewables to cut emissions and improve long-term sustainability.
However, delivery risks are rising as budgets, skills and grid coordination struggle to keep pace.
The findings are based on responses from 199 local authorities across England and reveal strong momentum on low-carbon investment, alongside significant barriers that could slow progress.
On the positive side, 95% of councils are investing in building retrofits, electrification and renewable technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
A further 83% have electrified infrastructure, including EV charging and heating systems, while 82% have invested directly in renewable generation.
Operational data is also improving, with 61% of councils now measuring real-time energy use and performance metrics to cut waste and optimise building operations. This growing digital capability supports more resilient, low-carbon public estates.
Funding has helped unlock action, with 89% of local authorities receiving government or private funding for decarbonisation or energy efficiency initiatives in the past three years.
These investments are central to lowering emissions and embedding sustainability into everyday public services.
Despite this progress, two-thirds of councils say they are not confident of achieving net-zero by 2050. The most significant barrier is budget pressure, cited by 79% of respondents.
Technology and integration challenges are reported by 37% of councils, highlighting the complexity of connecting new low-carbon systems into ageing estates. A further 33% identify skills shortages and limited engineering knowledge as major delivery risks.
Alice Williams, VP Digital Energy UK&I at Schneider Electric, said: “There is an urgent need for continued investment and support to ensure they can hit their targets, delivering a sustainable future for their communities whilst at the same time reaping the financial rewards that energy efficiency brings at a time when budgets are tight.”
Grid capacity, connection timelines, load management and system resilience are emerging as key constraints on low-carbon expansion.
The research concludes councils are actively driving sustainability through electrification, renewables and smarter energy management.
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