THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION

Registered charity 1107360 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · Wikidata: Q7313080 · Wikipedia · also known as REF

To advance the education of the public in subjects related to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment.

Objects

TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY:A) THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION, AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PRUDENT USE OF RESOURCES, INCLUDING, IN PARTICULAR, THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY;B) THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REGENERATION.TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN SUBJECTS RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROMOTE THE STUDY AND RESEARCH IN SUCH SUBJECTS PROVIDED THAT THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH STUDY ARE DISSEMINATED TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS “DEVELOPMENT WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS".

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED. IN PRACTICE THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Wiltshire, South West, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£52k

Latest spending

£35k

Registered

2004

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net income surplus of £17,246 for the year ended 30 April 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £48,571. The trustees note that the charity runs a virtual office to achieve high productivity with modest means and has reduced activity to conserve funds due to current funding issues. The financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: at least 6 months of operating costs (reserves figure: £49k)

“it has however, as a policy, an aim to try and keep a fund of at least 6 months of operating costs held in reserve where possible.” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Trading subsidiary: Renewable Energy Forum Limited

“Renewable Energy Forum Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company which raises funds for the charity by means of commercial consultancy across the energy sector.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Risk management

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 30/04/2025

Has a trading subsidiary

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 30/04/2024

Has a trading subsidiary

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 30/04/2023

Has a trading subsidiary

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Corporate structure

Trading subsidiary: RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM LIMITED Companies House 03939422
Registered company of the charity Companies House 05222782

RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM LIMITED — per its own Companies House accounts

The company has a loan receivable from its parent company, The Renewable Energy Foundation, which is interest-free and repayable on demand.

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Estate of the late Mr Simon Pearson — “The full update of all the datasets has been supported by a generous legacy from the estate of the late Mr Simon Pearson for the promotion o…” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

TANNER, Ian David — director, appointed 25/07/2025not on trustee list
JOICEY, Andrew Hugh, The Honourable — director, appointed 05/07/2021on trustee list
KELLY, Michael Joseph, Professor — director, appointed 12/11/2018on trustee list
TANNER, Ian David — secretary, appointed 25/07/2025

Official officers record.

Trustees · trustee networks

COLIN DAVIE
HON Andrew Hugh Joicey
Professor Michael Joseph Kelly · trustee of 2 other charities

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
30/04/2025	£52k	£35k
30/04/2024	£72k	£101k
30/04/2023	£86k	£59k
30/04/2022	£57k	£66k
30/04/2021	£73k	£53k

Common questions

Is THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net income surplus of £17,246 for the year ended 30 April 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £48,571. The trustees note that the charity runs a virtual office to achieve high productivity with modest means and has reduced activity to conserve funds due to current funding issues. The financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include BACON FOUNDATION LTD, THE WYFOLD CHARITABLE TRUST, THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S CHARITY.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
BACON FOUNDATION LTD	FY2022	£25k	Support data publication and analysis related to renewable energy
THE WYFOLD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£10k	The advancement of education
THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S CHARITY	FY2022	£1k

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
The Ethos Foundation	1	£100k
THE PWC FOUNDATION	1	£10k
SIR HARRY PILKINGTON FUND	1	£2k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT.

SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT income £63k
NEW PRODUCERS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY income £275k
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION income £32k
THE ENERGY SAVING TRUST FOUNDATION income £211k
RESTORE OUR PLANET income £162k
EARTHWORKS TRUST LIMITED income £467k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION	£52k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT FY2025	£63k	—	0	below	—	no doubt
NEW PRODUCERS FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FY2025	£275k	—	0	below	—	no doubt
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FY2025	£32k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
THE ENERGY SAVING TRUST FOUNDATION FY2026	£211k	£60,001 - £70,000	—	unclear	—	no doubt
RESTORE OUR PLANET FY2025	£162k	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.