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The 2020 targets have been put in place to reduce carbon emissions and to increase the proportion of total energy consumption generated from renewable resources.
A number of major European countries like the UK, Netherlands and France are falling further behind their targets for renewable energy consumption:
- The UK’s consumption of renewable energy resources only amounts to 4.2 per cent of its total energy consumption, which is behind its target for 2020 of 15 per cent.
- The Netherland’s consumption of renewable energy resources amounts to just 4.5 per cent of its total energy consumption, which is far behind its target for 2020 of 16 per cent.
- France’s consumption of renewable energy resources amounts to 13.4 per cent of its total energy consumption with a 2020 target of 23 per cent.
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Estimates from the European Commission suggest that reaching the 20 per cent renewable energy target, set for the EU, would create over 400,000 jobs over a nine year period (2011 - 2020).
Huge growth
Lisa Mangan, Relationship Manager at Procorre, said: “As new technologies are developed, the use of resources, such as biomass, is becoming more efficient and economically viable.
“I would expect to see huge growth in the number of new roles for contractors in this area throughout Europe.
“Politicians have long talked about increased production of renewable energy creating a growth in the jobs market. Contractors throughout Europe are already benefitting from that growth of the renewable energy industry.”
Scandinavia
Many Northern European countries – particularly in Scandinavia - have invested heavily into the renewable energy industry and are attracting large numbers of international specialist contractors. Sixty-five per cent of Norway’s energy consumption comes from renewable energy resources and 50 per cent in Sweden.
Lisa Mangan said: “With renewable energy resources accounting for such a high proportion of energy consumption in several Scandinavian countries, many contractors are already taking advantage of this relatively mature jobs market.”
“Denmark is aiming to generate 100 per cent of its energy from renewable resources by 2050. To do this it will need to increase the amount of day-day jobs in the renewable sector even further. This will cause a huge shift in the energy job market, which contractors are likely to benefit from.”
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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2014
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