The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced the members of a Taskforce of experts that will be dedicated to improving energy efficiency in homes and buildings around the country, to cut the amount of energy used in the UK.
Minister Lord Callanan and NatWest CEO Alison Rose have been appointed as the co-chairs of the Taskforce, with their target clear: cut energy use in the United Kingdom by 15% by 2030, in relation to 2021 levels. First announced in the Autumn Statement of 2022, the driving force behind the Taskforce was to provide support for a step change in energy demand by accelerating the delivery of efficiency measures across the UK economy.
The team will use their unique experiences and perspectives, as well as combining their vast pool of knowledge to help the government deliver their ambitious commitments to energy reduction, with this in turn creating new jobs, growing the economy and cutting energy bills for people across the nation. Already establishing key priorities and exploring ways of working to achieve their goal, the Taskforce has already met and members include Chief Executive Officers of some of the biggest names in relevant private sector companies and their counterparts in the public sector. As the process moves forward, the team will also look into ways that a wide range of stakeholders can provide their expertise.
Domestic and commercial buildings will be targeted alongside industrial process, with some key priorities being increased use of household insulation and and upgrades to boilers.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:
“We have scoured the UK’s industry to amass a top team of the best and brightest, and I am excited to learn from the unique expertise that each member brings to the table
“We firmly believe the will of the people and industry to drive down energy use is there, but we need to put in place the right mechanisms to channel this. That means smart investment, effective engagement, and building the right skills base - and this is precisely what the Taskforce will be focusing on.”
Co-chair of the Energy Efficiency Taskforce, Alison Rose, aded:
“I am delighted to welcome experts from across industry, academia and government to the Energy Efficiency Taskforce. Addressing the climate crisis is a team sport, and building vital partnerships between the public and private sector is key to tackling this challenge. The Taskforce is bringing together a breath of experience and expertise from a range of sectors and we will work together to deliver concrete proposals that help support the ambition of reducing total UK energy demand from 2021 levels by 15% by 2030.
“Our focus on reducing energy use across homes, commercial buildings and industrial processes is important not only for cutting carbon emissions but also for delivering greater energy security and lower bills for people, families and businesses up and down the country.”
To see the full list of group members, read the government’s announcement here.
