A joint DECC and RenewableUK report assessing the economic benefits of onshore wind power was published on 8 May. This shows clear investment and job benefits to the UK as a whole, and at local authority level up to 2020.
Key findings of the report include:
- In 2011 onshore wind supported more than 8,600 jobs and was worth £548m to the UK economy. Of this around 1,100 jobs and £84m investment occur at the Local Authority level in which onshore wind turbines are located.
- This equates to almost £700k for every MW of onshore wind installed in the UK , with over £100k staying in the Local Authority area.
- If onshore wind is deployed at the central scale set out in Government’s Renewable Energy Roadmap (ie 13 GW) , the economy could benefit to the tune of £0.78bn by 2020, supporting around 11,600 direct and supply chain jobs (rising to around 15,500 total jobs if wider quantifiable impacts are taken into account).
- Many activities relating to the development and operation of wind farms are already carried out by UK based businesses. As the sector develops, there are likely to be opportunities to increase this activity.
- Onshore wind brings a range of wider benefits to local people including community benefit schemes which reward residents for hosting turbines, community ownership, investment in infrastructure around new developments, and improvement to wildlife and habitat management.
The report, by BiGGAR Economics, looks at 18 case studies of wind farms of different sizes drawn from across the UK. It analyses the contribution of wind farm development, construction, operation and maintenance to the UK economy at a local, regional and national level.
In launching the report Edward Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said:
“Onshore wind power is a cost effective and valuable part of the UK's diverse energy mix.
“Not only does wind power provide secure, low carbon power to homes and businesses, it supports jobs and brings significant investment up and down the country too.
“Our policies of increasing community involvement will also help ensure the right balance between developers and community interests.
“With the cost of the technology coming down, there is a real opportunity to reap the economic benefits onshore wind can bring.”
The National Skills Academy
The National Skills Academy for Power was established on 1 March 2010. The academy, which was is led by electricity-sector employers from Energy & Utility Skills, will play the key role in delivering skilled workers both to offset the retirement of the ageing workforce in the sector and develop the skills needed for low-carbon electricity, including smart networks and renewable generation.