Renewables and clean technology industry jobs could increase by 85% in the UK in 10 years with the right support from government, according to a report from the Renewable Energy Association (REA).
Employment in the renewables and clean technology industry stood at 128,954 in 2017/18 but could grow to 238,000 by 2030, REA said.
A fifth of the jobs, 46,000, are expected to be in the north of England which is currently home to a number of carbon intensive job clusters, it said.
REA added that the forecast comes after a rather disappointing year for industry job growth which saw an increase of just 1.5% from 2017 figures amid a series of subsidy cuts in the solar industry.
“Despite some policy advances taking place in the year following these figures, including the legislation for net zero and the offshore wind Sector Deal, a number of policy barriers remain in place preventing the industry unleashing its full potential,” the association said.
REA is calling upon the government to set out a range of policy proposals as part of a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy by COP26 at the end of this year.
It is also urging government to adopt some higher-level actions by implementing a more effective taxation system that promotes renewable energy, clean technologies and protects natural capital, provide a route to market for renewable transport, power and heat technologies.
REA chief executive Nina Skorupska said: “This report highlights the enormous opportunities the renewables and clean technology industry holds for the UK.
“One of the advantages of our industry is that it covers the lengths and breadths of the country, as such its benefit can be felt throughout the UK.
“With the government’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 we can see that there is political will, however, this needs to be backed up by policy for the renewable energy and clean technology sector.
“This report provides the government with that insight, and we are calling on them to deliver this urgently ahead of COP 26.”