Positive Energy: how renewable electricity can transform ... - WWF UK

Can we really create ‘green jobs’
There is strong evidence that the renewables industry could create many jobs if the UK
takes the opportunity to be an early mover in the sector.
Several reports have said that the UK has the potential to be a market leader in offshore
wind, wave and tidal technologies 60 . We have huge natural resource, capable of servicing
the domestic market and exporting to the burgeoning European markets and beyond 61 .
Significant growth in green jobs is a key potential economic benefit of building a strong
UK supply chain. Germany is already benefiting from this, with over 367,000 people
currently employed in its renewables industry.
367,000
PEOPLE CURRENTLY
EMPLOYED IN
GERMANY’S
RENEWABLES
INDUSTRY
The Carbon Trust’s recent Marine Renewables Green Growth Paper 62 highlighted that
over a quarter of the universities working on marine renewable technologies worldwide
are based in the UK. The Paper said that with extensive industrial expertise in operating
in difficult offshore environments, the UK is in an ideal position to substantially reduce
the costs of marine renewable technologies and become a leader in the sector. As the
recent Grantham Research Institute/LSE brief made clear: “In general, early movers
will reduce costs associated with low carbon technologies more quickly, and
will become exporters of goods, ideas, knowledge and skills 63 ”.
The UK needs to move fast if it wants to make the most of this opportunity. We agree
with Chris Huhne that failing to take up this opportunity would be akin to economic
suicide for the UK.
Policy recommendation: The reformed electricity market must include well designed,
long-term financial support mechanisms for renewable technologies
Policy recommendation: The government should set a target for renewables to
provide at least 60% of the UK’s electricity demand by 2030
The box opposite sets out some of the most recent findings on the potential for
substantial job creation in the UK’s renewable energy sector:
WWF-UK 2011 Positive Energy page 52