POLICY

DELIVERING THE AMBITION: EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND

Scotlands credentials in renewable energy have never been stronger: an abundant natural resource; thousands of megawatts in operation; output equal to around a third of our electricity needs; billions of pounds of projects in development; world-leading expertise in research, offshore engineering and marine testing; and among the most ambitious targets in Europe.
Renewables are accepted as the most secure, sustainable, clean, climate-friendly forms of energy, sheltering consumers from rising and volatile fossil fuel costs, and keeping costs down over the medium to long term. The one piece of the jigsaw that has been missing until now is a clear picture of the levels of employment in the industry in Scotland today. This report is the first comprehensive study of employment in the sector, with the results showing that the industry is directly supporting more than 10,227 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts in project design, development, operation and its supply chain. In addition there are around 750 posts in renewable energy development and research in our Further and Higher Education institutions, and some 150 employees involved in renewables in the public sector. This gives a total of 11,136 Full Time Equivalent posts in renewable energy in Scotland. A clear pattern emerges from speaking to employers that these numbers are expected to grow over the year ahead and beyond, as this relatively new industry continues to expand. To capture this growth, Scottish Renewables intends to work with the industry to build upon this study and report again in the years ahead to outline the full economic benefit renewables bring to Scotland. Given the methodology employed, this study is inevitably an underestimate of the levels of employment supported by the sector, with the real levels of employment significantly higher when the lower tiers of the supply chain are factored in, along with induced jobs in other support services.

THIS GIVES A TOTAL OF 11,136 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY INSCOTLAND

DELIVERING THE AMBITION: EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND

METHOD
The study is an assessment of the number of FTE posts in Scotland in renewable energy development and operation, and in the direct supply chain in March 2012. To inform this study, Scottish Renewables gathered data through the three different means of questionnaires, telephone interview and online web searches.
Where a company has more than one area of activity, for example legal services or offshore engineering, only the FTE posts directly supported by renewable energy development or renewable energy supply chain have been counted, not the total employment in the firm. Given the very large number of disparate companies involved in solar installation and wood fuel supply, we have extrapolated employment levels from published data. In grid, we have based our estimates on data supplied by member companies on their direct and supply chain employment, with levels of FTE allocated to renewables based on Scotlands generation mix and the trigger for grid upgrades, such as Beauly-Denny. The bulk of these jobs are currently involved in projects that are principally driven by onshore wind generation. The figures for onshore wind contain an estimate of the numbers of employees in civil engineering based upon an extrapolation from key suppliers and our knowledge of the total megawatts of capacity under construction in Scotland today. Organisations from the private sector include developers and operators of renewable energy The study is based on data from more than 200 companies and organisations across Scotland. Where the distinction is clear, we have categorised employment by technology. However, many employers are involved in a range of technologies, therefore we have aggregated those employee numbers into a multi-renewables sector. It is important to note that the majority of employment in the Multiple category is dedicated to onshore wind projects. Companies involved in renewables span a range of technology sectors including bioenergy, heat pumps, hydropower, onshore and offshore wind, solar, tidal and wave energy, producing electricity, heat and biofuels for domestic, commercial and industrial markets within and outwith Scotland. projects as well as designers, manufacturers and fabricators of technologies and structures, civil and offshore engineering contractors, electrical network contractors, consultancies and other professional services. This list is indicative rather than exhaustive. Educational institutions include academics and researchers, while public sector employers include the civil service, enterprise agencies and other government bodies.

DELIVERING THE AMBITION: EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND

RESULTS
The following tables provide the aggregated numbers of FTE posts working in (1) development and in the respective supply chains and (2) each distinct renewable energy sector.
TABLE 1 TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN

EMPLOYEES Development Supply Chain TOTAL 1,526 8,701 10,227

TABLE 2 TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN IN SCOTLAND BY TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY Bioenergy Grid Solar and Heat Pumps Hydro Onshore Wind Offshore Wind Wave and Tidal Working across Multiple Sectors Higher and Further Education Public Sector TOTAL

EMPLOYEES 1410 3223 161 503 2235 943 521 1231 757 152 11,136

These figures show that onshore wind is the largest employer by generation type, and it should be noted that the majority of employment in grid and in multiple sectors is also supported by the development of onshore wind.

DELIVERING THE AMBITION: EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND

CONCLUSION
It is clear that the renewable energy industry is already a significant employer in Scotland, supporting more than 11,000 employees.
With more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of projects in development in Scotland, the sector has the potential to grow quickly over coming years, creating more opportunities for employment across the country. At a time of slow economic growth, the sector will be a major source of investment, providing a much needed injection of capital to drive forward the economy. Likewise, it will be an important source of new jobs for those leaving education and training, making the industry a key part of our response to rising youth unemployment. As a growth sector, it also offers new opportunities for the existing workforce and business base in parts of the economy which have been hit by the downturn. One of the major attractions of renewables is that these jobs will be spread throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas. Glasgow, Fife and Edinburgh are already established as important centres for offshore wind development; Aberdeen is a major centre for offshore engineering; the Highlands and Islands are leading the development of the emerging wave and tidal sector; and bioenergy is providing jobs across rural Scotland With continued political support, the right market framework, the right balance in the planning system, and investment in grid and our ports and harbour infrastructure, we will ensure the creation of many thousands more jobs in this exciting newsector. From work boats and electricians, to lawyers, consultants and engineers, the renewables industry is having a positive impact across the Scottisheconomy. This report also highlights the large number of opportunities in the immediate supply chain directly supported by each job in renewables development, with around six employees in the supply chain for every employee in development. from Lochaber to Morayshire to Dumfries andGalloway.

WITH MORE THAN 20 GIGAWATTS OF PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT IN SCOTLAND, THE SECTOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GROW QUICKLY OVER COMINGYEARS

3rd Floor, 49 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 2DL 0141 353 4980 @ScotRenew info@scottishrenewables.com www.scottishrenewables.com

DELIVERING THE AMBITION: EMPLOYMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND