Renewable Energy: Made in Britain
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Renewable energy: MADE IN BRITAIN Jobs, turnover and policy framework by technology (2012 assessment) Demolition expert Civil works personnel Foreman Surveyor Structural engineer Civil engineer Quantity surveyor Biochemist Labourer Electrician Plumber Roofer Heavy equipment operator Sheet metalworker Operations Manager Office administrator Health“Around and the safetyworld, from officer Shift manager General labourer AD plantChina operator to Germany, Supervisorour Accountant Purchaser Customer care competitorsCommunications are waging expert Sales person Logistics manager a historic effort to lead Architectin developing Solar new system design engineer Lawyer Project manager Financialenergy plannertechnologies… Economist Forester Electrical systems designer Nobody is playing for CHP secondplant place. operator These Port hand Physics engineer Environmental engineercountries E nvironmentalrecognise that consultant Meteorologist Programmer Aeronauticalthe nation that engineerleads the Agronomist Welder Machinist Skilled clean energy economy assembleris likely to leadMarine the technology design engineer Test technician Chemicalglobal economy.” engineer Materials engineer Semi-skilled worker ArchitecturalBarack Obama technician Planner Marine biologist Waste collector Turbine specialist engineer Wood recycler Crane operator Farm worker Power generation engineer Energy trader Policy expert Underwater diver Biomass power plant operator Marine engineer Turbine specialist engineer Metal worker Office manager Ship’s captain Rigger Pipefitter Helicopter pilot Chemist Energy manager Instrumentation engineer Scaffolder Panel cleaner Hydrogeologist Boiler engineer Reservoir engineer Environmental scientist Heating engineer Ecologist Subsea engineer Materials engineer Oceanographer Marketing manager Woodland manager Fluid dynamics specialist AD systems design engineer Biochemist Farmer Feedstock loader Truck driver Plant operator Maintenance technician Laboratory worker Vehicle designer Hydrologist Pump attendant Microbiologist Fuel and ash supervisor Labourer Maintenance manager Geologist Pump designer Geophysicist Drilling services manager Tanker driver Plant operative Pipeline engineer Product development manager Biotechnologist Agriculturalist Tanker driver Farmer Arboriculturalist Wood chipper operative Warehouse manager 2 Systems engineer Quality assurance manager Marine surveyor RENEWABLE ENERGY: MADE IN BRITAIN Gaynor Hartnell Foreword Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association (REA) The Locomotive Act automotive industry’s status as the poorly articulated in Westminster – that of 1865 restricted flagship of German manufacturing’2. We is no longer the case in Scotland. Not steam engine vehicles draw huge inspiration from Germany, not before time, we hope this report will to 2–4mph and because it is one of the top performers put the spotlight firmly on renewable obliged a man waving on renewables in Europe – it isn’t by energy technologies in their own right. a red flag to walk 60 a long way – but because it sets out a We’re fiercely proud of our work at the paces ahead. British path the UK could follow. Like the UK, REA because we know our members engineers had patented Germany started from a low base – just are mobilising the most important combustion engine and electric motor 3% renewables as a share of total energy technologies in the world. vehicles by 1882 but they were not 12 years ago. Like the UK, Germany is a We’re delighted to have worked developed thanks to the powerful major economy with a large population. with Innovas and our Sector Groups railway and carriage industries’ success In just over a decade it has increased its to finally put a figure of over 100,000 at winning and maintaining such production of renewable energy nearly on the number of people employed highly restrictive legislation. Karl Benz, four fold. Joining-up energy, economic across the whole UK renewables meanwhile, started selling his motor and industrial policy is key to its success. industry and its supply chains today. vehicles in Germany in 1888. It wasn’t Their renewables sector today employs We want to triple that figure in the next until 1896 that the UK speed limit was over 370,000 people and invests around decade. Energy made in Britain means raised to a breakneck 14mph1, enabling €30 billion per annum – money that diverse jobs, rural and urban. It means the beginnings of a domestic market. circulates in the German economy. It safe and secure energy, a rebalancing The rest, as they say, is history. can be done. of our economy, new manufacturing Renewable energy promises a Indeed it must be done. The and export opportunities and a better technological transformation no less OECD estimates that without new balance of trade. We want to work radical today, and the above anecdote policies the world faces a 50% increase with the Coalition Government to put serves as a warning; established in greenhouse gas emissions. The renewable energy right at the heart interests can be strong enough to International Energy Agency warns of its growth, skills and employment stymie progress; politicians can tend to the window of opportunity to steer agendas. Together we can make the favour protecting existing, rather than away from the brink is closing. These leap. A renewable energy revolution promised, industries and employees. warnings come thick and fast and from means we can be confident that 100 But it also shows us that technological the mainstream. Yet despite the critical years from now there will not just be a advance is ultimately irresistible and role of renewable energy in our future proud history to be told, but a hopeful highly profitable for those brave enough prosperity, this vital sector remains future. to take the leap. marginalised in the broader UK policy Germany is renowned for its quality framework. In emerging industrial policy, 1 www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_ car-making, yet in its government’s own the high-tech agenda, skills and ‘The digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/ dg_180212.pdf. words its renewables industry is now ‘on Plan for Growth’ renewables receive 2 Renewable Energy: Perspectives for a Sustainable the verge of challenging the German precious little attention and the sector is Energy Future, German Environment Ministry, 2011. John Sharp Managing Director of Innovas Solutions The UK and devolved which began in summer 2008. On the billion. The UK renewable energy market governments are positive side it has focussed attention on is growing at a slower rate than most tasked with many the fault-lines in our economy and the of the developed and major developing responsibilities on UK has been searching for new sectors nations, where Innovas estimates global behalf of their citizens. to support which will bring both short growth across the sector and its supply The top responsibility and long term economic benefits. But chains is forecast to increase market these days is surely there have also been worrying signals value from £360 billion in 2010–11 to sustainable economic from part of Government that the green £770 billion by 2020. The increase in growth, supported by strong exports, a agenda cannot be afforded. Innovas’s global market value of £410 billion in secure energy system, a more balanced work on the booming low carbon that period (which is a conservative economy and employment of UK sector suggests the opposite is true. growth estimate) provides the UK with nationals across all skill levels. In the last few years the renewable additional opportunities to export This is challenging enough when energy sector has seen considerable its not inconsiderable expertise and times are good, but especially so growth over and above that seen in manufacturing capability. when navigating protracted stagnation the UK as a whole. This report shows following the economic eruptions in 2010–11 it was a sector worth £12.5 (continued overleaf) 3 RENEWABLE ENERGY: MADE IN BRITAIN If the UK were to take a rather local level. This is in sharp contrast to specific skills training for UK staff very modest share of 3% of the increase other energy generation technologies difficult, as there is little long term in the global market value this would i.e. gas, nuclear, where much of the visibility for training organisations to provide an additional £12 billion in economic benefit will be seen overseas plan against. international trade revenues and rather then in the UK. It has to be said that the devolved potentially a further 90,000 jobs in When the UK gets it right, such as governments, in many ways, are more higher value manufacturing and service in offshore wind, long term support advanced in their thinking and have jobs. The UK could do even better. and planning is known and highly seen the opportunities provided by Other areas of the world are taking visible. Investment is then forthcoming renewable energies in economic and the lead in areas where the UK has the and companies work together to environmental terms more clearly than capability to develop its own world develop the area. However when UK national government, especially leading companies. Whether or not strategy and support is volatile (as in terms of jobs at a local level for they are interested in climate change with solar PV Feed-in-Tariffs), or people across all skill levels. Yet central abatement, what drives these countries technologies are hampered by lack of government is key to providing the is the compelling economic benefits,