Around 2400 jobs were lost in Scotland’s onshore wind industry between 2016 and 2017, according to Scottish Renewables citing UK government figures.
Scottish Renewables said the losses represent a 29% fall year-on-year and reflect a UK government decision to “lock onshore wind projects” out of the energy market in 2015.
The Office for National Statistics figures also showed that a further 100 jobs in Scotland went in the solar sector, the industry body added.
Scotland’s total direct turnover from low-carbon and renewable energy activity in 2017 increased to £5.5bn, up from £5.4bn in 2016.
Turnover from solar PV fell 69% to £62m, while onshore wind turnover dropped 4%, to £2.8bn.
Scottish Renewables deputy chief executive Jenny Hogan said: “Industry has repeatedly warned the UK government that locking our cheapest forms of electricity generation – onshore wind and large-scale solar PV – out of the energy market would cost jobs.
“Those predictions have now been thrown into stark relief by the government’s own figures. 2400 jobs have been lost in an industry which is bringing enormous social, economic and environmental benefits to Scotland and providing skilled jobs and investment to some of the most remote parts of the country.
“While employment has grown in other parts of the renewables sector which have seen continued government support, the impact on onshore wind and solar jobs shows the cost of not supporting the industry as a whole.
“We urge the UK government to recognise these implications and remove the barriers preventing these technologies from competing in the energy market and enable Scotland to harness more of the tangible benefits which renewables are already bringing.”