Green energy potential being ‘squandered’ as jobs target missed

The Scottish Government is being accused of “squandering” the nation’s green energy potential as figures show the country is well behind its target for green jobs.

The SNP had targeted 130,000 green jobs by 2020, however latest figures suggest just under 26,000 are currently in place, a number down by 4,000 on the previous year.

Scottish Labour has said more work needs to be done to invest in green energy, after accusing the Scottish Government of “squandering” the country’s potential.

Labour’s net zero spokesperson Sarah Boyack said: “We need investment in supply chains, we need investment in renewables, and we need to speed up the planning process because we have projects that have been sitting for months waiting for approval with ministers.

“That is not good enough and we need to up our investment.”

Ministers would have hoped Grangemouth could be a breeding ground for more of these low carbon and renewable roles, however unions have said there are no plans for a just transition following the news that the oil refinery is set to close in 2025.

The Scottish Government says it is working at pace to help the hundreds of affected workers, however Unite the Union says more needs to be done.

Derek Thomson from Unite said: “There is no plan anywhere in this country for a just transition, we’ve seen a green industrial strategy published, which is more a prospectus for buyers than anything to do with an actual agenda for a green industry.

“We want to work with the government to look at this but we’re looking at a jobs crisis if we do not get a just transition and an industrial strategy for this county correct.

“We’ve seen the heart of many communities ripped out after the miners debacle and now were looking at potentially the same thing happening in Scotland if we don’t get just transition right.”

It comes as acting secretary for net zero Gillian Martin announced a new green industrial strategy this week.

She’s confident workers at Grangemouth will find new jobs – and that even more will be created in the sector.

The MSP said: “Grangemouth is a very, very key part of this and of course, our trajectory has to be improving the opportunity for more green jobs, attracting that inward investment and criticisms from Sarah Boyack aside, this is actually a joint mission between the UK Government and the Scottish Government and we’re focusing on that positive trajectory together.”

It’s been a glum week in the energy sector in Scotland.

The message is clear, something needs to change and there isn’t any time to waste.