The UK Government statistics for 2016 have shown that the number of people employed in Scotland’s offshore wind sector increased by 300% and equaled 2,000 employees.
The survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, showed the turnover from renewable energy activity in Scotland was GBP 5,458 million back in 2016.
“Companies that are developing projects here, as well as supply chain businesses supporting the wider industry, are employing people in skilled jobs and delivering investment from the Borders to Shetland,” Jenny Hogan , Deputy Chief Executive at Scottish Renewables, said.
“The rise in employment in the offshore wind and renewable heat sectors illustrates the huge boost to jobs and investment that is possible when technologies are given the right backing by Government. For these benefits to continue and grow, the whole industry needs to see that level of political commitment sustained across the board.”
Scotland is home to the world’s first floating wind farm, the 30MW Hywind Scotland, which started delivering power to the grid in October 2017. Besides Hywind, E.ON’s 180MW Robin Rigg is the only fully operating offshore wind farm in the country.
The country will see the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm produce its first power this summer, with full commissioning scheduled for 2019, as well as Vattenfall’s 92.4MW European Offshore Wind Deployment Center (EOWDC), which is expected to produce first power in the summer, as well.
The Scottish Government has also granted offshore planning consent for four more sites, including Neart na Gaoithe, Inch Cape and SeaGreen Alpha & Bravo sites in the Firth of Forth, which have a combined consented capacity of over 2.5GW.