Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL for short) carries out a range of high-profile certification and consumer protection activities all of which promote renewable energy and the circular economy. In all, REAL administers 7 different schemes in this space: 2 consumer codes, 4 certification schemes and 1 registration scheme. They all contribute to the UK’s path to achieving Net Zero.

REAL is governed by a Board made up of an independent Chairman, four Non-Executive Directors and two Executive Directors.

Philip Sellwood (Chairman)

Philip Sellwood was CEO of the Energy Saving Trust from 2003-2020. During that time he undertook work for all UK Administrations and has represented the UK as part of the European Energy Network. He was awarded a CBE in the 2019 Queens Honours List for services to public policy.

Currently, Philip is Chair of Zemo Partnership, he advises several organisations in both the private and public sectors. Alongside this, Philip is a independent board member of both the UK Energy Research Council and the Energy Research Partnership. In addition, Philip is Chair of the board of the Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd and formerly the NED on the Local Government Innovation and Improvement board.

Philip served as the inaugural Chair of the Zero Carbon Academy from July 2022. Since July 2023 Philip has represented Tri-Captial Angels as an advisor and Investment Director on the board of HEERO Technologies.

Philip is also a founder Trustee of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a global charity committed to promoting the development of the circular economy. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Arts and the British Institute of Management.

Michael Chesshire (Non-Executive Director)

Michael Chesshire graduated with a first-class degree in engineering from Cambridge University, and, following a brief period in the nuclear industry, he has worked in anaerobic digestion since 1975: with Farmgas which pioneered pre-fabricated sewage sludge digestion technology; with Greenfinch which pioneered food waste AD; with Evergreen Gas which pioneered plug-flow anaerobic digestion technology; and now with Lutra which is an innovation and design consultancy.

In partnership with the University of Southampton, Lutra has been operating a pilot digester to research the feasibility of in-situ power-to-methane, and has researched the feasibility of producing green hydrogen vehicle fuel from off-grid renewable electricity. He is a visiting professor at the University of Southampton, a director of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd and a member of the Green Gas Certification Scheme Compliance Committee.

 

Sue Ellwood (Non-Executive Director)

Sue is an experienced and versatile consultant with a deep knowledge and understanding of gas transmission and distribution, wholesale energy markets and an active interest in sustainability and the transition to net zero. She originally joined British Gas as a graduate mechanical engineer and worked for them and their successor companies for 10 years in various technical, commercial and strategic roles.  Subsequently, in over 20 years as an independent consultant, Sue has worked for a wide variety of GB, NI, ROI and other European clients including regulators, transmission and distribution operators, shippers, suppliers, gas storage operators, infrastructure investors and the UK Department for Transport.

Her work mainly focuses on the commercial, contractual and regulatory arrangements and extends to advice and support for technical issues and operational matters as well as legislation and policy. Sue is also a member-nominated trustee director on the board of the corporate trustee of Cadent Gas Ltd Pension Scheme.

 

David Williams (Non-Executive Director)

Philip Wolfe (Non-Executive Director)

Philip Wolfe MBE is one of the pioneers of the UK renewable and community energy sectors.

A Cambridge first-class engineering graduate, Philip has been in sustainable energy since the 1970’s and was the first Chief Executive of BP Solar, before founding Intersolar Group. He was instrumental in the establishment of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, the UK’s Renewable Energy Association and Community Energy England and has served on their boards and as President, Director General and Chairman respectively.

His book on utility-scale solar power projects was published in 2012, and another on the early years of the PV sector was published in 2018.

Philip now serves as non-executive director of Solnet Group BV and Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd. He is a panel member of the Climate Bonds Initiative; founder of Wiki-Solar; and provides advisory services through WolfeWare Limited.
He was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours 2016 for services to renewable energy and the energy sector.

With his wife Alison, he has installed renewable energy in his home for heating and part of its electricity. He has four children and an ever-growing number of grand-children.

 

Virginia Graham (Executive Director and CE of REAL)

Virginia Graham is Chief Executive of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL). Set up in 2006, REAL administers two consumer codes, four certification schemes and one ID registry, all operating in the renewable energy and circular economy sectors. The largest of these is the CTSI-approved Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), for installers of small-scale renewable energy systems.

Before setting up REAL, Virginia worked for the GB energy regulator Ofgem for six years as Director of Environmental, Consumer and Social Issues. She has previously been a Trustee of National Energy Action, Chair of Global Action Plan, Chair and Trustee of Eaga Charitable Trust and Chair of the Heat Trust Committee. She was appointed OBE in January 2020.

Stuart Pocock (Executive Director and COO of REA)