One in six jobs in the renewable energy sector are expected to be lost in
the next year, according to a new industry survey.
The Scottish Renewables study found businesses in the industry predict
full-time equivalent posts in Scotland will drop 16.9% in the next 12 months.
Its Employment Trends and Business Confidence survey also asked respondents
how they feel about the future of the renewables sector more generally over
the coming year.
More than four in 10 (41%) said they feel either quite or very negative,
while the same number said they are “neutral” about the year ahead.
The organisation has called for action from the UK Government to address
the issues and boost confidence in the sector.
Director of policy Jenny Hogan said: “These results show that changes to
and closures of support schemes are having an impact on our members and on
the numbers of employees within their businesses.
“The UK Government is rightly excited about the economic opportunities
presented by the impacts of the global shift to low-carbon energy, but it’s
really important we don’t forget about the jobs in our renewable energy
sector today.
“Onshore wind and solar are the two cheapest forms of electricity, but
ministers are refusing to allow them to access long term contracts for
power, which will result in a marked slowdown in investment and a decrease
in employment, as our survey has suggested.
“For Scotland’s renewable energy industry to continue providing jobs and
ever-greater reductions in carbon emissions, Government must act quickly to
give companies the confidence they need to keep investing in our sector.”
The survey also found more respondents feel positive about the future of
their own businesses over the next 12 months than negative.
Almost half (47%) said they are either very positive or quite positive,
while 32% are either very negative or quite negative.
Around a fifth said they feel neutral.
The SurveyMonkey poll was completed by 46 companies within the Scottish
Renewables membership between February 6 and 19.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “These are worrying findings and
underline the urgent need for the UK Government to clarify its plans to
support renewables and the thousands of people now employed in the sector.
“Scotland has incredible natural renewable energy resources, but if it is
to maximise the economic opportunities on offer, the UK Government must
provide energy companies with a clear route to market.
“However, given we’re part of the GB energy market, this is not just an
issue for Scotland. As a net exporter of electricity, Scotland plays a key
role in helping the whole of the UK in cutting its carbon emissions.
“If we are to be able to plug in to the cheapest and cleanest forms of
power generation then it’s vital our political leaders north and south of
the border do all they can to support renewables.”
Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “The Scottish Government is
absolutely determined to ensure that Scotland’s renewable energy sector
continues to grow because of the clear and very substantial economic
benefits it brings to communities and the country as a whole.
“Our record on supporting renewables is strong – something acknowledged by
industry itself and by the UK Committee on Climate Change.
“We are determined to help support the sector in the face of destabilising,
ill-judged policy changes made since 2015 by the Conservative UK
Government; indeed, we have strengthened our own commitment in our draft
Scottish Energy Strategy.
“Scotland’s renewable energy sector, and all who work in it or who supply
the sector, are highly valued by myself and fellow Scottish ministers, but
the sector needs the same level of commitment from the UK Government which,
despite our repeated calls, has utterly failed to match our level of
ambition and, indeed, since the 2015 general election they have made
dramatic, unwarranted cuts to support for hydro and wind energy projects.
“The UK Government has an opportunity to put an end to this damaging
uncertainty by placing renewable investment at the very heart of their long
awaited industrial strategy and by allowing key technologies, such as
onshore wind, which is already cheaper than nuclear power, a viable route
to compete in the market. If they do not, and jobs are lost in the
industry, the people of Scotland will hold them to account for neglecting
the needs of a key sector in our economy.”
A UK Government spokeswoman said: “The renewables industry has been a
strong success in Scotland thanks to UK Government support, worth £730m per
year. In our last funding round over 40% of successful UK projects were
based in Scotland.”
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