RenewableUK welcomes ten-year Government plan to create investment, growth and good jobs in clean energy

Commenting on today’s publication of the Government’s Industrial Strategy 2025, which sets out a ten-year plan to increase business investment and grow the industries of the future, including clean energy which is identified as one of eight high-growth sectors, RenewableUK's Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said: 

“Today’s industrial strategy identifies clean energy as one of the sectors with the highest growth opportunity, and we are going to see tens of billions of pounds of new investment in wind energy, grid and hydrogen in the coming years. With that new infrastructure comes a golden opportunity to secure new jobs, manufacturing, innovation and exports, in the growing industrial clusters across the UK, in areas like the Humber, Scotland, South Wales, the South West of England, and Teesside.

“There are already nearly 2,000 companies in the UK who have benefitted from contracts to deliver work in the wind energy sector. Collectively, wind energy currently employs 55,000 people, a figure which has risen by a quarter from two years ago. By keeping a laser focus, as this Industrial Strategy does, on unlocking investment, remaining competitive, and supporting UK companies to innovate and grow, the offshore wind supply chain alone could boost the UK economy by £25bn over the next decade.

“The opportunity and vision is there, now Government needs to ensure they deliver on the critical aspects of this industrial strategy. Most notably for renewables, that means ensuring the next two Contracts for Difference allocation rounds are as successful as possible, clearing large volumes of projects in a stable market framework to reduce costs. This is essential if we want to attract investment in the UK’s supply chain, skills and capabilities.”

Further details on the Government’s Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan are available here.