Scotland: Renewable Industry Fears Job Losses

Many companies expect that they will not be able to hold full-time work for up to one-sixth of their workforce in the coming twelve months. This is due to changes to the law, the termination of subsidy programs and the reduction of subsidies.

Jenny Hogan of industry association Scottish Renewables is concerned: "The UK Government is rightly excited about the economic opportunities presented by the impacts of the global shift to low-carbon energy, but it's really important we don’t forget about the jobs in our renewable energy sector today. Onshore wind and solar are the two cheapest forms of electricity, but ministers are refusing to allow them to access long term contracts for power, which will result in a marked slowdown in investment and a decrease in employment, as our survey has suggested.”

Renewable energies are already the largest source of power in Scotland today, with new records set up in February alone: Strong winds caused wind turbines to produce as much electricity in the north of the British island as to provide more than 162 percent of the Scottish population with wind power.

In the renewables sector, 21,000 people are currently employed.