Salford expert on Government team to boost energy efficiency

The new Energy Efficiency Taskforce is chaired by Minister Lord Callanan and NatWest CEO Alison Rose, and has a clear target to support cutting energy use in the UK down by 15 per cent by 2030, from 2021 levels. As well as Professor Swan, membership of the group includes Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt and head of leading housebuilder Barratt Developments, David Thomas.

Drawing on their unique experiences and perspectives, they bring together a vast wealth of knowledge to deliver on the government’s ambitious commitments, which in turn will help grow the economy, create new jobs and cut bills for people across the country.

The Energy Efficiency Taskforce was first announced by the Chancellor in last year’s Autumn Statement and has been established to support a step change in the reduction of energy demand through accelerated delivery of energy efficiency measures across the economy.

Professor Swan said: “This is a reflection of the fantastic work the team at Energy House Labs have been doing over the last few years. From our major projects on retrofit and new build housing right down to simple energy efficiency actions such as the boiler turn down campaign. I am really excited to be representing the University of Salford in this nationally impactful activity.”

The Taskforce will devise a workplan to help reduce total UK energy demand by 15% from 2021 levels by 2030 across domestic and commercial buildings and industrial process - while cutting bills and helping push down inflation. This will include accelerating household insulation and boiler upgrades. As the work of the Taskforce progresses, it will also look at ways of drawing on the expertise of a wider group of stakeholders.

The Taskforce has met for the first time to establish key priorities and explore ways of working to reach the 15% reduction ambition, sounding out avenues such as green finance, the resolution of supply chain issues and changing consumer behaviour.

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 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 focussing on.”

Responding to industry’s call for long-term funding certainty to help strengthen UK supply chains, £6 billion of government funding will be available from 2025 to support this objective, in addition to the £6.6 billion allocated this Parliament – taking the total to £12.6 billion this decade.

The Energy Efficiency Taskforce Steering Group is comprised of the following individuals:

Co-Chairs:

• Lord Callanan, Minister for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Alison Rose DBE, Group Chief Executive Officer, NatWest Group

Additional Steering Group members:

• David Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Barratt Developments
• David Halpern, Chief Executive Officer, Behavioural Insights Team
• Graham Bell, Chief Executive Officer, B&Q
• Mitesh Dhanak, Chief Executive Officer, Cenergist
• Laura Sandys, Chair, Government’s Energy Digitalisation Taskforce
• Professor Will Swan, Director, Energy House Laboratories at University of Salford  
• Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive Officer, Energy UK
• Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Green Finance Institute
• Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO, Liebreich Associates
• Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK
• Adam Scorer, Chief Executive Officer, National Energy Action
• Sir John Armitt, Chair, National Infrastructure Commission
• Carl Ennis, Chief Executive, Siemens plc
• David Postings, Chief Executive Officer, UK Finance
• Simon McWhirter, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, UK Green Building Council