Renewable Energy Association

This article is part of the Climate project of Spinwatch.

Background

We represent a wide variety of organisations, including generators, project developers, fuel and power suppliers, equipment producers and service providers. Members range in size from major multinationals to sole traders. Our membership topped 500 in early 2007, making us by far the largest renewable energy industry association in the UK.

"The REA’s main objective is to secure the best legislative and regulatory framework for expanding renewable energy production in the UK. We undertake policy development and provide input to government departments, agencies, regulators, NGOs and others."

History

"The Renewable Energy Association was established in 2001 to represent British renewable energy producers and promote the use of sustainable energy in the UK. The REA was called the Renewable Power Association until October 2005."

Funding and finances

The REA is funded from member contributions with other income established from services and consultancy, including PR work, conferences, seminars, and publications. Members include ´most of the leading banks and professional firms, with a significant activity in renewables.´

People

Staff

• Philip Wolfe Executive director. Experienced in engineering and renewables industry. He led Lucas's solar business from the mid 70's and then negotiated their joint venture with BP, becoming the first Chief Executive of what is now BP Solar. He was Chairman and Chief Executive of Intersolar while it expanded its business from industrial systems engineering into product marketing and thin film solar cell manufacturing. From 1993 to 2002 the Group was the sole UK manufacturer of photovoltaic cells.

He has served on the Board of Directors of European and British renewable energy associations, and on bodies advising ministers, the European Commission and the British Government.

• Gaynor Hartnell deputy Director. Long term research fellow at Sussex University working on the impacts of environmental regulation on innovation in sectors as diverse as agrochemicals and ferrous foundries. Joined the British Wind Energy Association, as Technical and Policy Analyst, in 1995. Since then has run the Landfill Gas Assoc, which became the Biogas Association. She co-coordinated CREA(Confederation of Renewable Energy Associations) an umbrella group of RE trade associations.
• Clare Wenner Head of Transport Biofuels. Long experience in Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Foods (MAFF) and food industry and trade lobbyist with GJW Government Relations (1984 to 1992). 1992 to 1996 Director of corporate Affairs with Geest PLC, major food and drink importers to UK.
• Paul Thompson Policy Analyst for Transport Biofuels.
• Steph Merry Marine Renewables. Specialist in Hydrodynamics. Has worked for the Defence and Evaluation Research Agency (DERA), Haslar.
• David Collins REA's expert on anaerobic digestion.
• Virginia Graham Chief Executive of the REAL Assurance Scheme. For six years to the end of 2005 Virginia was Director or Environmental and Social Affairs at Ofgem. Part of her remit was to administer Government Climate Change programmes including EEC, RO and CCL exemptions for renewables and CHP. With a background in politics and economics, Virginia has specialised in consumer, social and environmental policy for most of her career, working in both the UK and the EU.
• Gideon Richards REA Heat and Cooling Specialist.
• Andrew Cooper Head of On-Site Renewables at the Renewable Energy Association. Green Party Councillor, fuel poverty issues advocate.

Board Members

The Board comprises of nominees of member companies elected as described in the bye-laws.

• Mark Candlish from Renewable Energy Systems.

• David Fitzsimmons Cheif Exec of Novera Energy. Has had a long and extensive career at BP in senior management. He was the Chief Executive Officer at BP's International Oil Trading business, the President at BP Asia, and a Commercial Director responsible for BP's gas, power, and renewable business. He has held senior positions in all core businesses within BP. He has extensive experience at managing international energy businesses, having been the Head of BP's oil trading and the President of BP Asia. Mr. Fitzsimmons is a Member of Advisory Board at Braemar Energy Ventures through which he sits on boards with Petroleum and Alumina companies, and Investment banks.

• Chris Miles Biofuels and woodheat advocate.

Directors nominated by sector groups:

• Andrew MacLellan from Ener-G.

• Bruce Cross of PV Systems.

• Andrew Lee of Sharp UK.

• Graham Stowell Managing director of Bronzeoak, International biofuel and bioenergy developers.

• Doug Ward CBE of Argent Energy, UK biodiesel plant. Biofuels advocate. Pushes for Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation through REA.

• Sean Sutcliffe Executive Director of Biofuels Corporation.

• Sue Wheeler Head of New Energy at Centrica, suppliers of gas and electricity.

• Martin Wright Managing Director of Marine Current Turbines. Martin has corporate finance skills and commercial experience spanning a wide breath of industries developed whilst working as a venture capitalist, and as a director of investee companies. In particular he is very familiar with the issues involved in early stage technology companies. Renewable Energy has been a particular interest for a number of years, and MCT represents the culmination of that interest. Martin is responsible for all the commercial and financial aspects the company, and is excited at the prospect of building MCT into a significant technology provider to the power generation industry.
• Jonathan Johns, Honorary Treasurer. From Ernst and Young Renewable Energy sector. See

• Rory Tait of Trinity International Plc. Honorary Secretary.

Association Members

The REA has over 500 members, ranging from micro generation and equipment supply to large corporations, banks and construction. As of yet I can't find anything on which are the biggest shareholders. However, below is a list of the larger interest groups/companies with membership, and others who's interest in REA is not yet clear.

• Shell International
• Scottish Power PLC
• npower Renewables
• Natwest Bank PLC
• Marks and Spencer Group
• Lafarge Aggregates
• Frontier Agriculture
• Energy Institute
• Energy Developments ltd
• E.ON UK Renewables
• Biofuels Media
• British Energy
• British Sugar PLC
• Confederation of Forest Industries
• Co-operative Group

Lobbying firms

• Edelman

Former lobbying firms

• Hume Brophy

Contact details, Resources, Notes

Contact

• Address: (5th floor) 17 Waterloo Place, London SW1Y 4AR.

• Phone: (020) 7925 3570

• Fax: (020) 7925 2715

• Emails: innnn@r-e-a.net where i is the person's first initial and nnnn is their surname

• Website: http://www.r-e-a.net/