RenewableUK has published a new document outlining how it will work with its member companies to promote best practice within the renewable energy sector by sharing examples of how firms are upholding high environmental and ethical standards.

The Just Transition Tracker sets out three themes: People, Places and Planet. The People section of the document highlights the importance of creating fair, well-paid jobs for people from a diverse range of backgrounds. It states that the industry will continue to invest in apprenticeships and training, as well as encouraging people to make the transition from other sectors into renewables. It also calls for Government to play its part by setting up a Just Transition Fund to facilitate this. RenewableUK will track and review progress on an annual basis.

The Places section includes a commitment to continue growing the domestic supply chain by increasing the level of UK content in renewable energy projects, which currently stands at 60% for onshore wind and 48% in offshore wind. The document says the industry can build on its current skills in design engineering, construction and operations across the life cycle of each project. This will contribute to the Prime Minister’s levelling up agenda by providing new opportunities across all parts of the country, including the regeneration of coastal communities. The sector will support local training facilities and education programmes using RenewableUK’s Futures Forum events to attract young people into the industry. At a local level the industry will continue to engage with communities, maximising economic benefits for them, and at an international level we will encourage companies in our sector which operate globally to apply the same principles abroad as they do in the UK.

The Planet section focusses on promoting sustainability by reducing imports and encouraging greater sourcing of products and services within the UK, as well as improving recyclability and reusing and repurposing components. It also encourages carbon-intensive industries to switch to low carbon energy sources and promotes the development of a zero carbon grid.

Notes:

1.    RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 400 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.

2.    The Just Transition Tracker document is available here.