- Alison Rose DBE, NatWest CEO, named Co-Chair of the Energy
Efficiency Taskforce to spearhead efforts to reduce the UK’s
energy consumption and cut household bills.
- The Taskforce aims 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 Chancellor will welcome the appointment at a summit later
today (Tuesday 21st February) with CEOs, founders, and
leaders from the UK’s top green companies.
ALISON Rose, Group Chief Executive Officer at NatWest, has been
confirmed as Co-Chair of the Government’s Energy Efficiency
Taskforce, charged with helping reduce national energy
consumption by 15% over the next seven years and, in the process,
cut bills, and help push down inflation.
The Taskforce, launched today, 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.
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 Chancellor will confirm the appointment at a meeting with
nearly 100 representatives from the UK’s top green firms to
gather the best ideas for driving growth in the sector, projected
to be worth £1 trillion to UK businesses up to 2030.
The Chancellor said:
“Our green industry is a key growth sector set to be worth £1
trillion by the end of the decade. It will bring high-paid jobs,
brand new manufacturers and huge export opportunities – but needs
extra attention now to make sure British companies and our people
can fully share in the sector’s success and grow the economy.”
Energy Security & Net Zero Secretary 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
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.”
Alison Rose, Chief Executive Officer of NatWest Group,
said:
“I’m delighted to be co-chairing the new Energy Efficiency
Taskforce, alongside . 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.”
Hosted at an East London venue, the “Treasury Connect: Green
Industries” aims to expand the possibilities of the sector
with detailed sessions on reforming and simplifying regulation,
getting green firms the finance and skilled domestic workforce
they need to grow, boosting exports and building strong UK supply
chains.
The UK's green economy enjoyed a bumper 2021, with both turnover
and employment at their highest level since records began.
According recent ONS data, 247,400 people now work in green
industries, with further evidence that the clean energy, electric
vehicle, and energy efficiency markets in particular are
continuing to grow rapidly, and outperforming the wider UK
economy.
The conference will also be attended by the Energy Secretary
and the Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, , with specific discussions
on Regulation, Financing, Skills & Supply Chains, and
Exports.
Alison Rose has extensive experience in financing energy
efficiency. NatWest Group has committed provide £100 billion of
Climate and Sustainable Funding and Financing between 1 July 2021
and the end of 2025 to help families buy energy-efficient homes
and create jobs that will deliver our transition to Net Zero.
The Taskforce launched today also includes Department for Energy
Security and Net Zero Minister as Co-Chair. Membership of
the Taskforce’s Steering Group will be announced in due course.
