Solar energy could create up to 8,500 jobs in Scotland by 2030

SOLAR power could create more than 8,500 new jobs in Scotland by the end of this decade, if Scottish ministers can match the “ambition” of the sector.

Industry body Solar Energy Scotland (SES) released new figures showing that, if its target of six gigawatts (GW) capacity of new solar power can be achieved by 2030, a total of 8,500 jobs could be created.

And, says SES, such a move would see the sector employ five times as many people as worked in Scotland’s aquaculture industry in 2020.

SES has already said it was “entirely possible” the sector’s capacity could increase by between 4GW and 6GW by the end of this decade. Even growing the electricity generated from the sun by 4GW could result in the creation of more than 5,500 new jobs, it said.

The figures were revealed in new research from SES, which was published at the same time as the organisation called for the Scottish Government to include targets for solar power generation in its forthcoming energy strategy, in the same way that has been done for other parts of the renewables sector.

Thomas Mcmillan, the chairman of SES, said: “We now have, for the first time, a real sense of how many high-quality jobs the solar sector stands poised to bring to Scotland by the end of the decade.

“We can expect thousands of new jobs to be created, from the most rural parts of the country to our urban centres, and it’s not just installation and maintenance: our members will also be hiring energy advisers, environmental planners, data analysts, and many other roles.

“The sector requires no subsidy to make this happen, but we do need ministers to support our ambition for 4GW to 6GW of new solar power across Scotland by 2030.”

SES has already had what is described as a “very positive” meeting with Energy and Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson.

And Mr Mcmillan said: “We are confident that the Scottish Government understands the urgency of the situation and sees the benefits the industry is poised to help deliver.”

Josh King, vice-chairman of Solar Energy Scotland and director of Moray-based manufacturer and installer AES Solar, who co-authored the report, said that the sector was “essential if Scotland is to meet its decarbonisation targets”.

He added: “Our technology will also help cut fuel poverty,

build energy independence, and reduce everyone’s bills.

“No form of power is getting cheaper more quickly, and solar now costs less per megawatt hour than any fossil plant.

“The opportunities are enormous, including more than 8,500 new jobs, and Scotland cannot afford to be left behind.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2045 and transforming Scotland in to a fairer, greener and more prosperous country, that is why we have committed £2 billion in low carbon funding to invest in new measures to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change and create green jobs.

Meanwhile, a renewable energy firm wants to build a new underground hydro power station deep within a Scottish mountain.

Bosses at Drax said plans have been submitted to expand their existing Cruachan Power Station to increase the total amount of energy the site can produce to 1.04 gigawatts.

Drax said the planned station at its existing “Hollow Mountain” facility inside Ben Cruachan – Argyll’s highest mountain – would be the first newly constructed plant of its kind in the UK in more than 40 years.

Planning applications were submitted yesterday, with Drax stating around 900 jobs could be created over the six years construction will take – with this total including supply chain jobs in a range of industries including quarrying, engineering, transport and hospitality.

Around 150 local on site construction jobs will be created.

The plans for the power station will see reversible turbines used to pump water from Loch Awe to an upper reservoir on the mountainside, with the hydro power plant then using this stored water to generate renewable electricity.

Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s Scottish assets director, said: “This major infrastructure project will support hundreds of jobs and provide a real boost to the Scottish economy.”

Claire Mack, chief executive of the industry body Scottish Renewables, said the planned new station was “absolutely vital” to both Scotland and the UK.