Energy Efficiency Taskforce disbanded after six months

[edit] Background

Establishment of the Energy Efficiency Taskforce was announced in the Autumn 2022 statement, by the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) to support a step change in the reduction of energy demand through accelerated delivery of energy efficiency across the economy.

[edit] Members

The taskforce included Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Lord Martin Callanan and NatWest (NWG.L) boss Alison Rose as co-chairs, to reduce the country's energy consumption and cut household bills. The taskforce's membership also included Sir John Armitt; head of Barratt Developments, David Thomas; and leading experts from the University of Salford, the UK Green Building Council and National Energy Action.

[edit] Objectives

The objectives of the taskforce were to advise and work with ministers on delivery of the government’s ambition to reduce total UK energy demand by 15% from 2021 levels by 2030, across domestic and commercial buildings and industrial processes. The taskforce had particular focus on private sector and the stimulation of investment. Its priority areas of focus included:

• Stimulating the supply chain to address and increase investment, reduce skills gaps, accelerate pathways to accreditation, improve product manufacturing capability, and increase the wider availability of materials required to deliver high quality upgrades at pace
• Identifying barriers and opportunities in existing market and regulatory frameworks to delivering the demand reduction ambition in a way that works for business, consumers and society in order to inform policy decisions
• Increasing consumer, public sector, and business engagement in the delivery of existing and new initiatives on energy efficiency and clean heat. This may include addressing the lack of consumer take-up or behavioural change and high attrition rates
• Working with the private sector to increase the availability of green finance linked to installation standards and quality
• Tackling different installation challenges and embedding the need for standards across differently funded markets (considering recent tragedies highlighting the risks in domestic settings)
• Working with DESNZ to gather, monitor and respond to data that shows progress towards the 15% demand reduction target

[edit] Disbanding

The first meeting of the taskforce took place in March 2023. In September of 2023, the Prime Ministers announced a change in direction on net zero policies, scrapping the energy efficiency regulations for landlords, and as a result the taskforce was disbanded. No replacement had as yet been announced.

[edit] Notes

• See also the article Industry responds to Prime Ministers Net Zero policy announcement.
• Further information on the withdrawn Energy Efficiency Taskforce can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/energy-efficiency-taskforce#membership

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