Expert panel to put science and tech at the heart of clean power
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-09)

A new Science and Technology Advisory Council has been set up, to provide expert advice.

Science and evidence-informed policy will be at the heart of the government’s clean power mission and acceleration to net zero.

A group of prestigious scientific leaders has been appointed to the Science and Technology Advisory Council, which met for the first time yesterday (Wednesday 9 July).

The Council will provide robust, scientific, evidence-based information to support key decisions as we overhaul our energy system to reach clean power by 2030.

It will also offer independent viewpoints and cutting-edge research on topics from climate science, energy networks and engineering, to the latest technologies and artificial intelligence.

Their expert advice will allow ministers to access the most up-to-date and well-informed scientific evidence, improving decision-making and effectiveness of policy implementation.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Evidence-based decision-making is fundamental to the drive for clean power and tackling the climate crisis, with informed policymaking the key to securing a better, fairer world for current and future generations.

To give our mission the very best chance of success, the Science and Technology Advisory Council will draw on the knowledge and wisdom of some of the finest scientific minds of the nation – because clean power offers a huge prize of energy security, lower bills and good jobs.

DESNZ Director General Chief Scientific Adviser Paul Monks said:

Robust scientific research and evidence is vital to inform decisions, as we break new ground with the mission for clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero.

I look forward to working with some of the country’s most esteemed climate and energy scientists, engineers and mathematicians, to provide comprehensive and considered advice to government on some of the greatest challenges of our time.

The team of 16 highly esteemed academic and industry experts will be co-chaired by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Director General Chief Scientific Adviser, Paul Monks, and Professor David Greenwood, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at Warwick Manufacturing Group.

The group will be commissioned for advice as required and will meet quarterly. They will assist the Energy Secretary and the wider department.

Science and Technology Advisory Council members
- Professor Paul Monks CB, FRMetS, FRSC, FInstP - STAC Co-Chair and Chief Scientific Adviser & Director General, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
- Professor David Greenwood FREng - STAC Co-Chair and CEO of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centre
- Professor Julian Allwood FREng - Professor of Engineering and the Environment, University of Cambridge
- Professor Feargal Brennan - Professor of Offshore Engineering, University of Strathclyde
- Professor Richard Dawson CEng FICE FREng - Professor of Earth Systems Engineering, Newcastle University
- Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer FRSE, FEI, FIChemE, FRSA, FRSC - Director, UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) and Deputy Principal (Global Sustainability), Heriot-Watt University
- Emeritus Professor David Newbery CBE, PhD., Sc.D., F.B.A. - Director, Cambridge Energy Policy Research Group
- Professor Nicholas Pidgeon MBE FBA - Professor of Environmental Psychology and Risk, Cardiff University
- Dr Fiona Rayment OBE, FREng, FRSE - Government Advisor, Non-Executive Director and Visiting Professor at University of Manchester
- Professor Nilay Shah OBE FREng -Professor of Process Systems Engineering, Imperial College London
- Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE, FRMetS, FRSA, HonFEI - Director, Cambridge Zero
- Professor Benjamin Sovacool Ph.D. FAcSS, FRSA, MAE - Professor of Energy Policy, University of Sussex
- Dr Erica Thompson - Associate Professor of Modelling for Decision Making, University College London
- Professor Elizabeth Patricia Thornley BSc, DPhil, FREng - Professor of Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University
- Professor Sara Walker SFHEA - Director of Birmingham Energy Institute
- Mr Jonathan Wood C. Eng FRSA - Vice President & Chief Technical Officer, Cummins Inc
- Dr David Wright FREng, FIET, MIGEM (Ex-Officio STAC Member) - Co-Chair Energy Research Partnership