Davey announces 拢29 billion boost to economy and makes the case for Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom
Since 2010 more than 拢29 billion worth of investment has been announced in renewable energy with the potential to support around 30,000 jobs
Press notice: 2013/050
At the All Energy Conference today in Aberdeen, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey will:
- Announce new regional renewables job and investment figures for the UK
- Call on Scotland to remain in the UK to protect current high levels of renewable investment
Renewables jobs and investment
New research shows that since 2010 more than 拢29 billion worth of investment has been announced in renewable energy with the potential to support around 30,000 jobs.
The figures produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that between January 2010 and April 2013 industry has announced:
- 18,613 jobs and 拢14.5 billion investment in England,
- 9,143 jobs and 拢13.1 billion investment in Scotland,
- 1,952 jobs and 拢1.4 billion investment in Wales,
- 239 jobs and 拢304 million investment in Northern Ireland.
Mr Davey will say to the All Energy Conference:
鈥淭he UK offers a uniquely attractive, stable, transparent and supportive environment for investment in low carbon generation.
鈥淏etween now and 2020, the support we give to low carbon electricity will increase year-on-year to 拢7.6 billion 鈥� a tripling of the support for renewable energy.
鈥淭he investment environment for renewables is dynamic.
鈥淣ew research by my Department estimates that, since 2010, across the UK, over 拢29 billion of private sector investment in renewables has been announced supporting almost 30,000 jobs.
鈥淢any of these jobs are highly-skilled and well-paid positions and employees can be proud to be a part of securing the UK鈥檚 energy supply.
鈥淭he commitment of the UK Government to a vision of a low carbon future is building up a bow wave of new jobs and investment in the economy.鈥�
Table of UK renewables investment and jobs from January 2010 to April 2013.
| By country | Recorded Investment | Jobs announcement has the potential to support |
|---|---|---|
| England | 拢14.5 billion | 18,613 |
| Scotland | 拢13.1 billion | 9,143 |
| Wales | 拢1.4 billion | 1,952 |
| Northern Ireland | 拢304 million | 239 |
| Total | 拢29.3 billion | 29,947 |
| By English region | 听 | 听 |
| East | 拢7.7 billion | 7,706 |
| Yorkshire | 拢2.9 billion | 3,801 |
| South West | 拢1.5 billion | 1,643 |
| North East | 拢1.3 billion | 2,190 |
| North West | 拢486 million | 1,110 |
| East Midlands | 拢435 million | 1,310 |
| London | 拢85 million | 225 |
| South East | 拢80 million | 488 |
| West Midlands | 拢17 million | 140 |
Examples of renewables projects by region can be found in the Notes for Editors.
Scottish independence
Mr Davey will tell the All Energy Conference that independence will bring uncertainties for Scottish renewable investment:
鈥淪cotland could go it alone. Just as the United Kingdom could go it alone outside the EU.
鈥淏ut in both cases our respective citizens would be less secure, less prosperous and less influential.
鈥淯nder the current Renewables Obligation system some 37% of the support 鈥� around 拢530m annually 鈥� goes to Scottish renewables projects.
鈥淏ut only 9% of UK electricity sales are here in Scotland.
鈥淪o would an independent Scotland be able to deliver the same support to renewables on the back of a domestic electricity market that is only one 10th the size of the UK?
鈥淎t present Scottish renewables benefit from the ability to spread investment costs across the whole of the UK consumer base.
鈥淎s part of the British energy market, Scotland and its energy industry, as net exporters of energy, have access to a market of more than 23 million households and the integrated energy networks that deliver them.
鈥淲e cannot assume that English, Welsh and Northern Irish consumers would still be willing to subsidise Scottish renewables.
鈥淏ut it will be much harder for a nation potentially having to spread the costs of investment in renewables across just two and a half million households to keep prices competitive.
鈥淚 believe Scottish renewables have flourished precisely because Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. Our collective energy system has underpinned the success seen to date.鈥�
Notes for Editors
Renewables investment and Jobs 2013 鈥� Examples
Scotland
- Project: Harestanes - Forest of Ae, Dumfries and Galloway Energy: Onshore wind Investment: 拢160m Jobs: 150
- Project: Helius CoRDe - Speyside Energy: Biomass Investment: 拢50m Jobs: 120
- Project: Kilgallioch - border between Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire Energy: Offshore wind Investment: 拢297m Jobs: 250
England
- Project: Aesica - Cramlington Northumberland Energy: Biomass Investment: 拢80m Jobs: 140
- Project: Ferrybridge - Wakefield, North Yorkshire Energy: Energy from waste Investment: 拢250m Jobs: 350
- Project: Keadby - Lincolnshire Energy: Onshore wind Investment: 拢85m Jobs: 60
- Project: Sleaford - Lincolnshire Energy: Biomass Investment: 拢155m Jobs: 230
- Project: Kencot Hill - Oxfordshire Energy: Solar PV Investment: 拢14m Jobs: 2
- Project: Iggesund - Workington, Cumbria Energy: Biomass Investment: 拢108m Jobs: 300
- Project: Tees Valley - Teesside Energy: Gasification Investment: 拢300m Jobs: 750
- Project: Humber Gateway - 8km off the Yorkshire Coast close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary Energy: Offshore wind Investment: 拢736m Jobs: 1,300
- Project: Frodsham Marsh - Cheshire Energy: Onshore wind Investment: 拢50m Jobs: 50
Wales
- Project: Brechfa Forest West - Carmarthenshire Energy: Onshore wind Investment: 拢19m Jobs: 150
- Project: Pen Y Cymoedd - South Wales (in the county boroughs of Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf). Energy: Onshore wind Investment: 拢365m Jobs: 300
Northern Ireland
- Project: Brockaghboy - Garvagh, Co Londonderry Energy: Onshore wind Investment: 拢60m Jobs: 45
- Project: Tyrone Energy - Artigarvan near Strabane, County Tyrone Energy: Biomass Investment: 拢9.5m Jobs: 108
- Project: Ecoventi - County Tyrone Energy: Anaerobic digestion Investment: 拢30m Jobs: 28