Swansea energy efficiency firm supports government’s clean power drive this Wales Climate Week

This Wales Climate Week, Swansea energy efficiency firm Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) is supporting secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband following his recent article in The Guardian, where he insists that a shift to clean power by 2030 is not just achievable, but in progress.

With the cost-of-living crisis highlighting the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel markets and leaving families and businesses exposed to energy price spikes, Miliband emphasised the importance of transitioning to clean energy sources like renewables.

He claims that renewable energy will not only improve our environment but will lead to more financial security, and the significant economic opportunities the shift will bring can lead to job creation.

This is an idea encompassed by CES, as the fast-growing company employs over 750 employees, creating 581 jobs in Swansea this year alone. Established in 2016, CES delivers money-saving energy efficiency improvements to homes across South Wales and the South West, supporting customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint, and ultimately, their energy bills.

Having saved customers over 31,000 carbon tonnes over the last three years alongside monetary savings through the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 4 grant, which directly contributes to reducing carbon emissions and supporting energy efficiency in low-income households, CES is an example of Miliband’s vision of a government and industry working together to tackle energy challenges.

Sal Furreed, Operations Director at CES, said: “Ed Miliband’s recent discussion of clean energy has resonated with us at CES as the alignment between our goals and activities and his are undeniable. We are in the process of redeveloping Welsh homes through the ECO scheme, allowing many low-income households to access life-changing energy efficiency measures and reap the rewards of supporting a green future.

“As we set out a vision for energy efficiency and renewable energy to intersect to create a sustainable future, we envision our role in the transformation as supporting the government’s goals whilst continuing to address the needs of the more vulnerable communities of which we are a part.”

Miliband’s article follows the UK Autumn Budget where an additional £6 billion was allocated towards home retrofit and energy efficiency improvements from 2025 to 2028, with a focus on training and scaling up the retrofit workforce in order to implement energy-saving measures more broadly and efficiently across homes in the UK.

CES has recently opened a training academy in Treorchy, South Wales, to continue to upskill their retrofit workforce and to provide wider services as an accredited training partner for SWIP.

In response to the budget, Lewis John, Managing Director at CES, said: “It’s great to see the government’s funding and training strategy as part of a broader push to improve home energy efficiency, prioritising retrofitting social housing and low-income homes. The maintenance and extension of the ECO scheme is brilliant as we can continue to provide essential work to those in low-income areas.

“However, whilst these actions are welcomed, we believe more can be done. Extensive long-term funding and regulatory clarity is needed to meet the UK’s broader climate targets and achieve deeper retrofitting across all housing types.”

For more information about CES, visit: https://www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk/