Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Renewable Energy Sector: High-skilled Jobs

Tuesday 19 September 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK has over 400,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector with plans to significantly increase this number.
  • Government is investing billions in skills training, including 26,000 opportunities in energy efficiency and low carbon heating.
  • Green jobs delivery group will publish a workforce action plan in the first half of 2024 to boost the net zero and nature workforce.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Theresa Villiers Con
Employment Climate Energy
Context

The MP asks about steps to promote skilled jobs in the renewable energy sector, noting the importance of this area.

Question

What steps are being taken to help promote the creation of high-skilled jobs in the renewable energy sector?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

There are already over 400,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector and that will rise steeply over time. We are investing billions in skills, including green skills and including 26,000 training opportunities in energy efficiency and low carbon heating.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify how many new jobs would be created or when

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Q2 Theresa Villiers Con
Education Employment Climate
Context

The MP urges the government to prioritize apprenticeships in renewable energy and green sectors.

Question

May I urge the Government to give real priority to the creation of apprenticeships in the renewable energy and green sector? That way, we can use net zero to create great opportunities for young people and boost social mobility.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

We have delivered almost 5.5 million apprenticeships since 2010. The Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero chairs the green jobs delivery group, which will publish a net zero and nature workforce action plan in the first half of 2024.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to prioritizing apprenticeships specifically for renewable energy sector

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Q3 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Economy Climate Energy
Context

The MP highlights the UK's second largest offshore wind capacity but questions why it is behind Denmark in terms of jobs.

Question

Although the UK has the second largest offshore wind capacity in the world after China, Denmark has three times as many jobs in the sector. Many British wind turbines are being built in Spain, Holland and Indonesia. Why are the Government so far behind the curve on the green jobs bonanza that is so possible for our country?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

Thanks to Government policy and spending, we will support another 480,000 jobs in the green sector by 2030. We are leading the way in decarbonising faster than any other G7 country, with the jobs that come with that right across the country.

Not addressed: Did not address why UK is lagging behind Denmark in job creation within offshore wind industry

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Q4 Mark Logan
Employment Climate Science & Technology
Context

The MP welcomes the Secretary of State and asks about job opportunities in renewable energy due to AI.

Question

I, too, welcome the Secretary of State to her place and remind her that we started in this place at the same time, four years ago. Will she highlight the job opportunities in the new renewable energy sector that AI presents for my constituents in Bolton?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

My hon. Friend raises an interesting point about the job opportunities presented by AI, which will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect in this sector. I would be delighted to meet him to speak about this further, but we will be setting out more detail on our green jobs delivery group and our net zero and nature workforce action plan in the first half of 2024.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific job opportunities due to AI

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Q5 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Climate Energy
Context

The MP asks about certification requirements for installing solar energy schemes.

Question

Would it not boost skills in renewable energy generation and installation, as well as encouraging more uptake, if all those installing solar energy schemes had to be certified under the microgeneration certification scheme so that the householder, farm or business concerned would be guaranteed payment for surplus energy fed into the grid?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

We have explored his suggestion of legislating to make certification mandatory. We have no such plans at this time, as there is a mature approach to certification standards, and most UK domestic solar installations already take place within well-established schemes.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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