On the 21st February 2023 HM Treasury and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero anounced the formation of a new Energy Efficiency Taskforce to "spearhead efforts to reduce the UK’s energy consumption and cut household bills". It also announced details of who was to chair the influential group and, whilst Lord Callanan may not be too much of a surprise the same cannot be said for the co-chair who is announced as Dame Alisin Rose, the CEO of NatWest!

The Taskforce has bee established by the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with the aim to "accelerate household insulation, boiler upgrades and business energy efficiency measures to help cut national energy consumption by 15% over the next seven years".

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. It also recognises industry’s call for long-term funding certainty to help strengthen UK supply chains by announcing £6 billion of government funding will be made 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.

Energy Security & Net Zero Secretary Grant Shapps said:
 

I am determined to reduce people’s energy bills, bringing wholesale energy prices down to their lowest ever within the next decade, through investment in cheaper and more innovative energy sources such as renewables and nuclear.

But improving the energy efficiency of our homes by bringing the latest technologies into them will also help cut energy use, and with that people’s bills.

The Energy Efficiency Taskforce – to be led by the excellent Lord Callanan and Alison Rose – will be committed to clearing the barriers to getting this done, whether that’s investment, training up installers or improving the supply of products.

The somewhat surprising appoitment of Alison Rose as co-chair alongside the highly experienced and respected Lord Callanan is seen as a move to support the stated "industry’s call for long-term funding certainty to help strengthen UK supply chains". With such a huge financial investment and to gain further support from the green finance market her particular skills and area of expertise could represent a welcome change to ensure these objectives. SWIGA welcome this appointment.

Alison Rose, Chief Executive Officer of NatWest Group, said:

I’m delighted to be co-chairing the new Energy Efficiency Taskforce, alongside Lord Callanan. Addressing the climate crisis is a team sport, and building vital partnerships between the public and private sector is the key to tackling this challenge at pace.

Improving energy efficiency will not only drive a lower carbon environment, but also deliver greater economic security through lower bills for people, families, and businesses right across the UK.

We await the final structure of teh taskforce and note that a Taskforce Steering Group will be announced in due course - we will of course ensure the solid wall insulation industry is recognised within this group.