Press release: Davey announces £29 billion boost to economy and makes the case for Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom
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 £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 £14.5 billion investment in England,
- 9,143 jobs and £13.1 billion investment in Scotland,
- 1,952 jobs and £1.4 billion investment in Wales,
- 239 jobs and £304 million investment in Northern Ireland.
Mr Davey will say to the All Energy Conference:
“The UK offers a uniquely attractive, stable, transparent and supportive environment for investment in low carbon generation.
“Between now and 2020, the support we give to low carbon electricity will increase year-on-year to £7.6 billion – a tripling of the support for renewable energy.
“The investment environment for renewables is dynamic.
“New research by my Department estimates that, since 2010, across the UK, over £29 billion of private sector investment in renewables has been announced supporting almost 30,000 jobs.
“Many of these jobs are highly-skilled and well-paid positions and employees can be proud to be a part of securing the UK’s energy supply.
“The 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.”
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 | £14.5 billion | 18,613 |
| Scotland | £13.1 billion | 9,143 |
| Wales | £1.4 billion | 1,952 |
| Northern Ireland | £304 million | 239 |
| Total | £29.3 billion | 29,947 |
| By English region | ||
| East | £7.7 billion | 7,706 |
| Yorkshire | £2.9 billion | 3,801 |
| South West | £1.5 billion | 1,643 |
| North East | £1.3 billion | 2,190 |
| North West | £486 million | 1,110 |
| East Midlands | £435 million | 1,310 |
| London | £85 million | 225 |
| South East | £80 million | 488 |
| West Midlands | £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:
“Scotland could go it alone. Just as the United Kingdom could go it alone outside the EU.
“But in both cases our respective citizens would be less secure, less prosperous and less influential.
“Under the current Renewables Obligation system some 37% of the support – around £530m annually – goes to Scottish renewables projects.
“But only 9% of UK electricity sales are here in Scotland.
“So 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?
“At present Scottish renewables benefit from the ability to spread investment costs across the whole of the UK consumer base.
“As 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.
“We cannot assume that English, Welsh and Northern Irish consumers would still be willing to subsidise Scottish renewables.
“But 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.
“I 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.”
Notes for Editors
Renewables investment and Jobs 2013 – Examples
Scotland
- Project: Harestanes – Forest of Ae, Dumfries and Galloway
Energy: Onshore wind
Investment: £160m
Jobs: 150 - Project: Helius CoRDe – Speyside
Energy: Biomass
Investment: £50m
Jobs: 120 - Project: Kilgallioch – border between Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire
Energy: Offshore wind
Investment: £297m
Jobs: 250
England
- Project: Aesica – Cramlington Northumberland
Energy: Biomass
Investment: £80m
Jobs: 140 - Project: Ferrybridge – Wakefield, North Yorkshire
Energy: Energy from waste
Investment: £250m
Jobs: 350 - Project: Keadby – Lincolnshire
Energy: Onshore wind
Investment: £85m
Jobs: 60 - Project: Sleaford – Lincolnshire
Energy: Biomass
Investment: £155m
Jobs: 230 - Project: Kencot Hill – Oxfordshire
Energy: Solar PV
Investment: £14m
Jobs: 2 - Project: Iggesund – Workington, Cumbria
Energy: Biomass
Investment: £108m
Jobs: 300 - Project: Tees Valley – Teesside
Energy: Gasification
Investment: £300m
Jobs: 750 - Project: Humber Gateway – 8km off the Yorkshire Coast close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary
Energy: Offshore wind
Investment: £736m
Jobs: 1,300 - Project: Frodsham Marsh – Cheshire
Energy: Onshore wind
Investment: £50m
Jobs: 50
Wales
- Project: Brechfa Forest West – Carmarthenshire
Energy: Onshore wind
Investment: £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: £365m
Jobs: 300
Northern Ireland
- Project: Brockaghboy – Garvagh, Co Londonderry
Energy: Onshore wind
Investment: £60m
Jobs: 45 - Project: Tyrone Energy – Artigarvan near Strabane, County Tyrone
Energy: Biomass
Investment: £9.5m
Jobs: 108 - Project: Ecoventi – County Tyrone
Energy: Anaerobic digestion
Investment: £30m
Jobs: 28