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British wind industry now employs more than 15,000 people

 Renewables the ‘employment engine of the future’ but small-medium wind sector suffers from poor support

The number of people working in the medium and large-scale sectors of the British onshore wind industry, and offshore wind, has risen by 8% in just over 12 months to more than 15,400 direct, full-time jobs, according to the trade association RenewableUK. This means the number of people directly employed in this part of the renewable energy sector has increased by more than 6,300 in four years, rising from 9,100 in 2010.

The new figures, revealed in RenewableUK’s annual report: Wind Energy in the UK also show that the number of indirect jobs (for example supplying components) has increased by 8% since September 2013 to nearly 15,000 jobs. This means that more than 30,400 people owe their livelihoods to wind in the UK, mainly in STEM careers (based on qualifications in science, technology, engineering and maths).

RenewableUK’s annual study also shows that new onshore wind farms delivered £1.6bn of investment in 12 months; total offshore wind investment reached £1bn. And that, since the localisation of business rates for new onshore projects in April 2013, English onshore wind farms now contribute £5.9mn a year to local council coffers.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery, said: ‘Nearly two and a half thousand people have joined the UK wind industry’s dynamic, highly motivated workforce over the last year. That’s a growth rate that most other sectors can only dream of – renewables is the employment engine of the future. However, we still face numerous challenges. The growth of the most cost-effective of all renewable technologies, onshore wind, is threatened with extinction by the Conservatives’ misguided policy of ending all future support for it. The Tories are way out of step with the two-thirds majority of the public which consistently supports onshore wind.’

·      RenewableUK has welcomed the announcement by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind that it intends to commence serial production of blades at its Isle of Wight blade technology centre from as early as the second quarter of this year. The Isle of Wight centre currently functions as a testing and verification centre for the development of the blades, but MHI Vestas Offshore Wind will lease the production hall from this month. 

News Item details


Journal title: Energy World

Keywords: Wind Energy - Renewable Energy - Wind Power - offshore

Countries: UK -

Organisation: RenewableUK

Subjects: Onshore wind power, Offshore wind power, Employment

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