Sam is a principal in RAP’s Europe team. He has more than 25 years of experience working as a public policy analyst, the last 20 in the energy and climate fields.
Since joining RAP in 2018, Sam has worked closely with the European Commission, providing advice on the recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive, and with several European countries developing energy efficiency policy measures.
Between 2014 and 2018, Sam led the International Energy Agency’s analytical work programme on energy efficiency. His role included overseeing production of the annual Energy Efficiency Market Report—the IEA’s flagship publication on energy efficiency—and facilitating international cooperation on energy efficiency policy.
Earlier, as deputy director and head of climate change economics in the U.K. government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, he led the analytical work underpinning the U.K.’s Low Carbon Transition Plan, energy efficiency and fuel poverty strategies, and a wide range of climate and energy efficiency policies.
Alongside his work for RAP, Sam is Head of Secretariat for the User-Centred Energy Systems Technology Collaboration Programme by the IEA.
Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the University of the West of England as well as a master’s in economics from the University of London’s Birkbeck College.
How Samuel Thomas is Energizing Change
Cost recovery in the electricity sector – principles and practices
This Power System Blueprint Deep Dive explores practice across Europe in cost recovery of selected electricity… Read More +
Tipping the balance: Cheaper electricity is needed to drive clean heating
Heat pumps are the backbone of clean energy in buildings, delivering efficient, low-carbon heating and cooling… Read More +
What are you working on that is most crucial to RAP’s mission and why is it crucial?
Decarbonising the buildings sector, which accounts for around 1/3 of GHG emissions in Europe. Switching from fossil fuel heating systems to clean alternatives, heat pumps and district heating and improving the fabric performance of our buildings are the key technological changes. Policy is needed to drive action by households, businesses, network companies and regulators. RAP is well-placed to help policy makers in this task.
What is something you’ve read/watched/listened to that made you think?
Jim Lazar's Teaching the Duck to Fly. This was a great introduction to rate design in the energy transition. https://www.raponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/rap-lazar-teachingtheduck2-2016-feb-2.pdf
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be a milkman when I grew up, a profession that has virtually died out!