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The number of people working in renewable energy in Scotland rose by 5 per cent last year, according to a survey commissioned by Scottish Renewables.
More than 540 companies employed nearly 12,000 people full time in 2013, the survey found.
Of those companies, 54 per cent were planning to hire more people in the next 12 months and 42 per cent said they would keep staff levels the same.
Joss Blamire, senior policy manager for the industry body, said the survey showed “steady growth… despite an uncertain year”.
The biggest subsector was onshore wind, representing 39 per cent of renewables jobs, followed by offshore wind on 21 per cent, marine (9 per cent) and bioenergy (9 per cent).
Blamire said: “Renewables is proving it can be a significant contributor to many local economies throughout the country with emerging sectors such as offshore wind and marine energy already playing their part in creating much needed job opportunities.”
Electricity Market Reform, planning and connection issues were all cited as potential barriers to future growth, however. Blamire added: “We cannot become complacent over these positive job numbers when such considerable threats are on the horizon.”
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