Energy secretary Ed Miliband has set out a plan to boost renewable energy supply in his ‘clean power 2030’ announcement. 

This included measures to boost the UK’s renewable energy supply such as creating canopies of solar panels over outdoor car parks. 

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the plans would generate £40bn a year from the private sector.  

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Meakin-Blackwell, Director, MHA, said: 
“Around twice as much new transmission network infrastructure will be needed in the nation’s grid by 2030 as has been built in the past decade.  

“In addition to this, wind turbine generator, solar and battery assets continue to increase in size and therefore technical complexity.  

“According to the action plan, over 22.5% of all clean energy jobs are for engineering professionals. Given the relatively short period of time and the increased complexity of the work that needs to be undertaken, it remains to be seen whether this plan is too ambitious. 

“The plan also highlights the ‘huge opportunity’ for reskilling and transferring skills with over 90% of the UK’s oil and gas workforce possessing skills that have medium to high transferability to the offshore renewables sector. While this may be true and could be a major pull of investors in the North-east of Scotland in particular, a high degree of retraining will be required, adding further skepticism that these targets can be hit.” 

MHA, ranked the 13th largest accountancy group in the UK and Republic of Ireland, has a turnover of £180m, over 1,900 staff, 147 partners and comprises of 23 offices nationwide including England, Scotland and Wales, plus a further two in Ireland and one in the Cayman Islands. 

KeyFacts Energy News: Energy Transition