Latest news: Renewable energy leads the way

A report by the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and Innovas predicts that employment in the UK’s renewable energy sector could rise to around 400,000 jobs by 2020. 24/04/2012

The Renewable Energy: Made in Britain report states that this is ‘also a major opportunity for putting disillusioned graduates, the unemployed, and those in low paid work into high value careers.’

The annual revenue of the sector would also rise from £12.5bn currently to £50bn by the end of the decade, provided the government meet their target of producing 15% of its energy from renewable sources in this time frame.

Meeting these mandatory targets would create a world-leading industry in the UK, saving the country a total of £60bn in fossil fuel imports.

REA Chief Executive Gaynor Hartnell says, ‘Harnessing our renewables creates employment and means that rather than spending money on energy imports we can keep it circulating in the UK economy. When it comes to the employment, economic and energy challenges we face, the answer is clear – make it renewable and make it in Britain.’

Gregory Barker, the Minister of State for climate change, says, ‘The REA’s report sets out plainly the opportunities and challenges in this area. We are determined to seize the momentum and secure maximum benefit for the UK.’