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‘Up-skilling’ needed as Scotland’s renewable sector expands

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N129
Published: 19 Oct 2011

Speakers at the renewables debate (opens in new window)

Scotland faces tremendous opportunities from the continuing growth of renewable energy but, as the sector expands, there is a need for ‘up-skilling’ within the renewables industry and in the communities where projects happen.

This was one of the key themes to emerge from the SAC Rural Policy Centre’s renewable energy debate in Inverness. The event saw speakers representing community-based renewables projects, national private sector initiatives and planning/infrastructure issues offer different perspectives before an audience from the public, private, voluntary sectors.

Speakers acknowledged that there are great social and economic benefits to be achieved from renewables at national, regional and local levels. Among the key challenges identified, however, were filling the skills gaps within the industry and in local communities where renewable projects are developed.

Issues discussed included how the renewables industry requires cutting edge expertise in the areas of consenting, procurement, design and construction. Views were also expressed that variations in the capacities, skills and resources of different communities influence their level of involvement in renewables projects.

Dr Jane Atterton of the SAC Rural Policy Centre said: “Scotland’s unique landscape gives great potential for wind, tidal and other renewables opportunities. The growth of the sector is being driven forward by the Scottish and UK Governments’ ambitious targets for renewable energy generation and use and the growing community interest in renewable energy as a revenue stream for community investment.

“Significant elements of our debate surrounded the degree to which the industry has the wide range of skills it needs and how the communities in which renewable energy projects take place can position themselves to reap maximum benefit.”

“We will be distilling all the key points from the event and presenting them to policymakers to help highlight the key challenges in terms of who benefits from renewable developments, and put forward participants’ views on how these challenges might be overcome.”

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Jane Atterton
Policy Researcher
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 5354256

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News Release Issued By

Ms Jane Smernicki
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4331

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