New study shows 72 foreign countries benefitting from Scotland’s renewable energy expertise
57% of survey respondents say they’re currently moving into new markets
Video content available – see Scottish Renewables’ Nick Sharpe discuss the survey on YouTube
Scotland’s renewable energy expertise is being put to work in 72 countries, with Scottish businesses employing staff in 22 of those, a new study has revealed.
Industry body Scottish Renewables has found that businesses from across Scotland are working in countries as diverse as Burundi, Cabo Verde, Kazakhstan and Mozambique, and employing staff on six of the planet’s seven continents.
The new statistics also show Scotland’s renewable energy reach is growing: more than half (57%) of the companies which took part in a survey on Scotland’s green energy export impact say they’re currently moving into new markets, with almost a third (29%) considering doing so.
Scottish Renewables Chief Executive Claire Mack – who has addressed the All-Energy Conference in Glasgow on this topic – told how the results show that Scotland’s renewable energy industry “is having a positive effect far beyond our borders”.
She continued: “Scotland’s stretching renewable energy targets and the calibre of our engineering skills, in particular, mean the world is watching, and the results of this latest survey show the impact of our industry is now truly being felt across the globe.
“Scottish green energy engineering skills are in demand from Canada to Taiwan while our environmental, planning and technical knowledge is being used in Nigeria, Norway and many other countries.
“Scotland’s renewable energy industry employs 17,700 people and had a turnover of £5.5 billion in 2017. There are some of the domestic impacts of our sector, but this study, and the real-life stories which sit behind it, show our impact is truly global and that the skills and products which are being developed in Scotland are having a positive effect far beyond our borders.”
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “Scotland has long been a byword for reliability and expertise in renewable energy advice and engineering matters – from the early days of hydro power development through to today’s world and its growing demand for innovative technical skills and knowledge.
“This survey underlines just how valuable Scottish energy businesses are perceived to be around the world, and the premium placed on their advice and support by countries from Bulgaria to Yemen.
“I want to see more Scottish companies grown in this way – to develop a globally competitive and successful supply chain, as well as getting increasing business activity from energy developments around Scotland.”
Examples include:
- Lanarkshire-based Green Cat Renewables, which opened an office in Alberta in 2017 to provide development support and consultancy services for renewable energy projects across western Canada.
- Smarter Grid Solutions, a Glasgow software business which is deploying its technology to enable leading utilities integrate more renewable energy into electricity grids in Germany, New York, Ontario, California, and Arizona
- Orkney contractor Leask Marine, which is providing instrumentation monitoring, logistics and anchor-handling support to offshore wind farms across northern Europe, after building a reputation in Orkney’s booming wave and tidal energy sector.
- Video, graphics and images in this media release are available to download.
- Interviews with Scottish Renewables CEO Claire Mack are available. Contact Nick Sharpe to arrange.
- 27 renewable energy organisations responded to a survey on export statistics. Of those, 15 are headquartered in Scotland, and it was from this sample that these snapshot results are drawn. More detail is available in this briefing.
- Full list of countries to which Scottish renewable energy businesses have exported: Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Burundi, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, China, Cote D’Ivoire, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea Bissau, Italy, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Palau, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Romania, Rwanda, Russia, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, São Tomé e Príncipe, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia.
- Full list of countries in which Scottish renewable energy businesses employ staff: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, United States, United Arab Emirates.
- More information on Green Cat Renewables’ Canada office, Leask Marine and Smarter Grid Solutions is available online.
- High-res images of Claire Mack are available to download.
