UK workers union Unite has warned that the lack of an industrial strategy to increase UK wind manufacturing is preventing a just transition in green jobs.
Responding to the renewable energy auction results today, Unite stated that as part of the auction process there is no requirement for bidders to use local manufacturing content.
“With the majority of jobs in offshore wind being in the manufacturing process this is crucial.
“Currently just 20% of UK wind manufacturing contains local content and nearly half (42%) of UK offshore wind farms are owned by foreign governments,” stated Unite.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Creating sustainable green jobs must be at the heart of the UK’s renewable energy strategy.
“The government will continue to fall at the first hurdle in providing a just transition for oil and gas workers, unless we ensure that the towers, blades and nacelles needed for new wind farms are manufactured in the UK.
“Not only has the government got to play catch up to meet its renewable energy targets, but it must also develop a UK wind manufacturing industry, or it is simply exporting green jobs abroad.”
Earlier this year Unite launched its no ban without a plan campaign which aims to ensure that the government does not ban new licences for oil and gas in the North Sea until a just transition with real, well paid jobs green jobs is in place.
Such a plan is essential to ensure that oil and gas workers can transition to these jobs and are not left facing an economic cliff face and a similar fate to the miners in the 1980s.
Unite estimates that UK government investment of around £1.1bn can create 35,000 jobs in a just transition.
Unite research has found if a manufacturing target of 60% of local content was met for offshore wind manufacturing, this would create 12,500 new jobs.
The government has a target of producing 30GW of offshore wind by 2030 but there is currently still only 29GW having been built or in the pipeline, meaning that 31GW of wind farms need to be granted.
Source: reNews
