The number of workers in Scotland employed – directly and indirectly in the low carbon and renewables sector rose to 58,500 in 2015 – up from an indicative 43,500 employed in 2014.
The low carbon and renewables sector generated a turnover of £10.5 billion, 14% of the total UK sector. In addition, the Office of National Statistics numbers show.
- Scotland represented 48% of all UK employment, and 53% of all UK turnover, in onshore wind
- 33% of all UK employment, and 28% of turnover, in low carbon electricity generation, is in Scotland
- For low carbon services, Scotland represents 24% of all UK employment, and 26% of turnover.
Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Scottish Energy Minister, said: “It is telling that these statistics show a sector in rude health and playing a growing role in our economy just as the UK Government removed a number of key support mechanisms that have encouraged substantial growth.
“Today, the sector remains beset by the uncertainty brought about by short-sighted and harmful decisions by UK Ministers and indecision around support in areas such as marine energy, islands wind projects, pumped hydro storage and islands grid connections, which risks investors moving outside the UK.
“While I celebrate the success these figures indicate for Scotland, I am under no illusions whatsoever as to what the wider effect of damaging UK Government decisions, and indecision, may be having on the sector in Scotland and the UK over the longer term and these figures demonstrate the scale of progress that continued, sub-optimal UK policies will put at risk.”
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy