11,000 Scottish jobs in renewables

The renewable energy sector supports the equivalent of 11,136 full-time jobs in Scotland, according to a report published today from industry body Scottish Renewables.

It said that, with more than 20 gigawatts of renewable projects in development, the sector “has the potential to grow quickly over coming years, creating more opportunities for employment “and jobs would be spread throughout the country.

The sector directly supports 10,227 full-time equivalent jobs in project design, development, operation and the supply chain. There are 757 posts in renewable energy development and research in colleges and universities, and a further 152 people work in renewables in the public sector.

Onshore wind is the largest employer with 2,235 people, compared with 1,410 in bio-energy, 943 in offshore wind, 521 in wave and tidal power, 503 in hydro energy and 161 in the solar and heat pumps sector.

It published the research as the body that represents the oil and gas sector said Scotland will depend on oil for “decades to come” to meet its energy needs. Oil & Gas UK also cautioned there were “considerable difficulties” with the timescale for the Scottish Government’s target of producing 110 per cent of electricity demand from green sources by 2020.

• Read the full report here