By RTCC Staff
The solar industry is creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic (Source: flickr/WalmartStores)
The number of people employed in the renewable energy industry in Europe passed the 1 million mark for the first time, according to new figures released today.
The EurObserv’ER State of the Renewable Energies in Europe report puts the number of people employed in the industry at 1.11 million across Europe.
Solid biomass employs the most people with 273,000. Solar has overtaken wind for the first time as the second largest employer with 268,110 and 253,145 respectively.
In the US, the solar sector employs 100,000 people, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The EurObserv’ER report is released in the midst of a backlash in the UK against onshore windfarms.
A group of more than 100 MPs wrote to the Prime Minister last week calling for a cut to the £400 million subsidy for onshore wind.
They say attention should be turned to offshore wind farms instead where a more reliable supply of wind energy is possible and there are few planning issues.
Data from WWF and RenewableUK shows the location of opposed MPs’ constituencies coincides with the location of proposed, planned or operational wind farms.