NATIONAL ENERGY FOUNDATION
News Release

Foundation welcomes PIU Report on Energy

"Seven out of ten". That was the general reaction from staff at the National Energy Foundation to preliminary reports on the leaked Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) report into Energy.

"We are particularly pleased to hear that the report's authors are keen to remove barriers to smaller scale renewable electricity generation," said Gareth Ellis, Manager of the NEF-Renewables section. "Under NETA, the New Electricity Trading Arrangements, many schemes are no longer viable: it is important that the Government recognises that the cheapest short-term supplies for consumers could have the most expensive long-term effects on the environment."

Richard Tinson, Director of the Foundation, was also pleased by the emphasis on energy efficiency, especially for larger industrial and commercial users. "We understand" he said "that there will be a recommendation that companies report on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in their annual reports. Although this will help investors and the wider public identify those firms who have been making progress towards improving their energy efficiency, only the very best can show their achievements through an award from the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme."

So why does the not report gain maximum marks? "We think that there could be more emphasis on bio-fuels, especially for the domestic sector, and suspect that more will need to be done on transport if the Government is to reach its target of cutting Carbon emissions from 138 million tonnes a year to just 55 million tonnes in 2050. We are also not sure if the growth in energy use in the service sector, especially in lights and IT equipment has been adequately recognised," concluded the Director. "However we are hopeful that the Full Report, when published, will address these important issues."

The National Energy Foundation is a UK Registered Charity dedicated to encouraging the more sustainable use of energy and the development of cleaner renewable energy sources. It aims to achieve this through programmes of public education and by practical projects supporting energy efficiency and renewables.

For more information about the Foundation, please call Ian Byrne or Gareth Ellis on 01908 665555.

14 December 2001

The National Energy Foundation: Registered in England - Charity No. 298951