New figures have revealed Scotland's low carbon and renewables sector generated £10.5 billion of turnover for 2015.

The Office of National Statistics report states employment in the sector also increased by 15,000, from 43,500 employed in 2014 to 58,500 in 2015.

Key highlights include:

• Scotland represented 48% of all UK employment, and 53% of all UK turnover, in the onshore wind sector

• 33% of all UK employment, and 28% of turnover, in low carbon electricity generation

• Scotland represents 24% of all UK employment, and 26% of turnover, for low carbon services

With the overall renewables low carbon and renewables sector representing 14% of the total UK sector, Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the government's focus on decarbonising its energy system has not only seen the country meet its climate change obligations early, but also it has "significantly boosted the Scottish economy".


"They show how large the sector was in 2015 and, with 58,500 employees and a turnover of £10.5 billion‎, the huge opportunity that green energy presents in generating the kind of sustainable growth from which all Scotland benefits," he said.

"It is also telling that these statistics show a sector in rude health, and playing a growing role in our economy, just as the UK Government removed a number of key support mechanisms that have encouraged substantial growth."

Minister Wheelhouse added he was under "no illusions whatsoever" of the potential wider effect on the sector due to decisions by the UK Government.

"Today, the sector remains beset by the uncertainty brought about by short-sighted and harmful decisions by UK Ministers and indecision around support in areas such as marine energy, islands wind projects, pumped hydro storage and islands grid connections, which risks investors moving outside the UK," he said.

"While I celebrate the success these figures indicate for Scotland, I am under no illusions whatsoever as to what the wider effect of damaging UK Government decisions, and indecision, may be having on the sector in Scotland and the UK over the longer term and these figures demonstrate the scale of progress that continued, sub-optimal UK policies will put at risk."

(LM/CD)