RenewableUK, the trade and professional body representing the wind, wave and tidal energy industries has welcomed the announcement by the Business Secretary Vince Cable of a long term strategy for industrial growth.
Mr Cable said he wanted to build strategic partnerships with key sectors. He highlighted the importance of the energy industry, including green energy, saying “these specific areas offer significant growth opportunities for the UK economy”. He emphasised the importance of creating long term environmental stability, as well as supporting emerging technologies by creating a pipeline of skilled workers and developing supply chains.
RenewableUK’s Director of Policy , Dr Gordon Edge , said:
“The Business Secretary Vince Cable has voiced his clear commitment to the expansion of the renewable energy sector, which will lead to the creation of thousands more green collar jobs, bringing billions of pounds of investment into the UK and stimulating technical innovation to maintain our country’s cutting edge. He has clearly grasped the scale of the enormous opportunity offered by the wind and marine energy industries to earn our way back to economic prosperity.
“The Secretary of State rightly emphasised the importance of sticking to a long term plan for growth, rather than being swayed by short term political considerations. The UK’s transition from an insecure over-dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels to cost-effective, reliable low-carbon sources of energy will guarantee a secure supply of clean electricity for the decades ahead. The renewable energy sector looks forward to similar commitments from other cabinet members, to ensure that the Government is sending the right signal to investors by creating a stable and supportive framework for industrial growth”.
Last night the Energy Secretary Ed Davey highlighted the key role for renewables in the UK’s energy portfolio. He told the CBI he wants “a diverse secure energy mix that allows us to decarbonise our economy”. Mr Davey also warned against an over-reliance on gas, noting that “the consensus is that gas prices will either remain high, or go higher, as global gas prices rose by 40% last year”. He also noted that unconventional gas would not make as big a difference as some reports had suggested, as shale gas wouldn’t be extractable at any scale for years to come.
Dr Edge commented: “ The renewables sector welcomes the Energy Secretary’s common sense approach on meeting our energy needs in the years ahead. It’s widely recognised that onshore wind is the cheapest way to deliver low-carbon electricity at scale. This is a sensible way to shield consumers from the fluctuations and price shocks of fossil fuels. We trust that the rest of Government shares this evidence-based standpoint.”
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Press release, September 12, 2012; Image: bisgovuk