The UK’s renewable energy industry, including heat, power, and
transport, employed a record 125,940 people in 2015/16 according
to REView 2017, the sector’s authoritative annual
publication, published today.
The number of jobs grew by 2.5% between 2014/15 and 2015/16, a
significant decline in growth from two years previous when growth
was at nearly 9%.
REView is published with employment data from independent
consultancy Innovas and investment data and analysis by KPMG.
Key points raised in the REView 2017 publication include:
-
· 125,940
jobs in renewable energy in 2015/16,
- · For
the first time data has been compiled on employment in energy
storage and electric vehicles, clean tech sectors which employ
16,256 people,
-
· Renewable
energy industry turnover of £17.4bn in 2015/16, a growth of 3.5%
on the previous year,
- · The
number of companies operating in renewable energy, however, has
fallen by 5%, largely due to a significant contraction in the
solar PV market (turnover in which has fallen to 2011/12 levels).
The industry turnover has been growing at an average rate of
around 6% annually since 2012/13.
The Renewable Energy Association argues that employment and
turnover growth has slowed significantly due to the over 15
negative policy changes by the Government since the 2015 General
Election. Employment growth rates have been shrinking in recent
years. Between 2012/13 and 2013/14 jobs growth was 8.8%, and
between 2013/14 and 2014/15 jobs growth was 4.2%.
It should be noted that the full brunt of range of negative
policy changes, ranging from cuts to the Feed in Tariff, closure
of the Renewables Obligation to onshore wind and solar, reform of
the Renewable Heat Incentive, removal of Levy Exemption
Certificates, and cuts to Embedded Benefits payments are not
fully reflected in this 2015/16 data. The REA anticipates these
factors to also have a significantly negative impact on 2016/17
jobs, turnover, and company number data.
Dr. Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy
Association said:
“It shows real progress that there were nearly 126,000 jobs
in renewable energy in 2015/16. This is in addition to over
16,000 in energy storage and in electric vehicles, which is the
first year we have reported on these sectors.
“What is deeply frustrating is that this growth could have
been greater. Policy instability in Westminster has slowed
growth. Our member companies are helping build a system that is
reliable, low-carbon and more affordable than the previous
one.
“There’s fierce competition to be at the fore of these new
technologies internationally. Government action is needed to
ensure the opportunity to be leaders in technologies such as
energy storage and decentralised systems does not slip between
our fingers.
“We are once again pleased to launch REView, our
authoritative annual report on the renewable energy
industry.”
, former Energy Minister
(Con) said:
“The renewable energy sector is a large job creator for the
UK and emerging economies alike, presenting significant
opportunities for international trade. Technology costs are
falling and there are now also great advances in energy storage
and electric vehicles.
“The incoming UK government must remain committed to
supporting clean technology development and the renewable energy
sector. They must remain absolutely in support of the Paris
Accord and show leadership on the world stage. There must be no
weakening of UK resolve by our politicians and we must show that
unlike others when we make a commitment we stick to it."
Peter Dickson, Partner at Glennmont Partners and report sponsor
said:
“The cost of power globally from renewable sources has
fallen, and the perceived risk of investment in conventional
power has risen, to the extent that investors are now much more
comfortable to invest in renewable power than in conventional
power.”
Simon Virley, Head of Power and Utilities at KPMG said:
"Renewables have reached a tipping point globally. If solar
and storage costs continue to fall, then these technologies will
soon be able to provide reliable low carbon power cheaper than
that supplied by the grid in many countries."
