ETI chief executive David Clarke

David Clarke biography
Chief executive, Energy Technologies Institute

Education
1984 Graduated from Surrey University with a BSc in materials technology
1987 Completed a PhD in composite materials, also at Surrey

Career
1987 Joined Rolls-Royce, worked in a variety of sectors, including advanced materials
1998 Appointed head of Rolls-Royce corporate research centre
2000-7 Head of Rolls-Royce technology strategy
2006-8 Member of EPSRC Council
2008 Joined ETI as chief executive

Background
Clarke is a fourth-generation engineer; his great-grandfather was a canal-boat builder, his grandfather worked on Rolls-Royce car engines, and his father on Rolls-Royce aircraft engines. He is a chartered engineer.

The targets Britain has set itself for reducing carbon emissions are challenging. By 2020, the country is to have reduced CO2 emissions by 34 per cent of 1990 levels. By 2050, emissions will have to be cut to 20 per cent of those levels. As everybody in the sector knows, nothing less than a wholesale change in the ways that we generate and use energy will allow us to reach those targets. And whether the justification is climate change mitigation, energy security or adjusting to an increasing scarcity and price of fossil fuels, government and industry both say that they are committed to the effort.