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Barker to launch renewable skills report

Climate change minister Greg Barker is to launch a report by the Renewable Energy Association (REA) revealing that the UK’s renewable sector supports 110,000 jobs.

Entitled ‘Renewable Energy: Made in Britain’, the report from the REA and Innovas plus its findings will be unveiled tomorrow (Tuesday 24 April) on the eve of the multinational Clean Energy Ministerial Summit.

The REA says that the report quantifies the turnover and employment figures of the entire UK renewables industry for the first time ever. Its findings include that in 2010/11 the industry was worth £12.5bn and supported 110,000 jobs – a figure which could rise to 400,000 by 2020.

REA chief executive, Gaynor Hartnell, said: “Harnessing our renewables creates employment and means that rather than spending money on energy imports we can keep it circulating in the UK economy. Government needs to take steps to build the skills base and keep the UK on track to meet its renewables targets. When it comes to the employment, economic and energy challenges we face, the answer is clear – make it renewable and make it in Britain.”

Greg Barker, Minister of State for Climate Change, added: “Renewable energy not only provides us with clean and secure energy that cuts our reliance on imported fossil fuels – it generates billions of pounds of investment and potentially hundreds and thousands of jobs and is a key growth sector for the UK economy.

“The REA’s report sets out plainly the opportunities and challenges in this area. We are determined to seize the momentum and secure maximum benefit for the UK.”