Talking to the IEA on Thursday, the Prime minister highlighted the urgent need for energy security in a volatile world, advocating an approach that combines rapid expansion of renewables and nuclear power with continued (but managed) use of domestic fossil fuels during the transition. I noted the lack of solar being mentioned, despite being the cheapest and one of the fastest growing sources of energy in the UK.
At Corrie, we’re one of the few companies developing British IP in the solar sector. We’re passionate about growing the renewable economy and look forward to a brighter, cleaner, more prosperous future, so I wanted to add some facts to the conversation.
The latest ONS data estimate the low carbon and renewable energy economy turnover was £69 billion, employing 272,000 FTE employees in 2022 – an increase of a third since 2015. Energy efficient products represent the largest area of employment but low carbon electricity had the largest turnover increase in 2022, rising by 53% to £29.0 billion
I was also struck by a recent discussion on Radio 4’s Week in Westminster, where Green MP @Ellie Chowns and GMB Union’s @Gary Smith debated the job impacts of the energy transition. Gary argued that “we have put up a huge number of wind farms around the UK but we are not benefitting in terms of jobs – and meantime people see jobs being lost in oil and gas.”
This is misleading. One measure of oil and gas jobs is that total direct and indirect jobs have fallen sharply (from 235,000 in 2013 to 120,000 in 2023, Offshore Energies UK) – but this reflects that huge decline in North Sea energy production, which peaked a quarter of a century ago.
The decrease in jobs reflects this decline – and as the rebranding of Oil & Gas UK to Offshore Energies UK shows, offshore activity is now growing through offshore wind. Oil and gas jobs have been high-paying but geographically and technically narrow. Renewables offer more diverse opportunities across the UK, with growing demand for electrical, mechanical, and digital skills in both office-based and site-based roles.
Have a look here for more details: Low carbon and renewable energy economy, UK – Office for National Statistics