Shale Gas in UK – Pound for pound, far more skilled work from renewables and energy efficiency

Pound for pound, both in the short-term construction phase and in terms of average plantlifetime jobs, there’s far more skilled work to be had from renewables and energy efficiency. The UK Energy Research Council’s report, the most thorough independent analysis of available evidence to date, shows that renewable energy and energy efficiency investments are on average about twice as job-intensive as investment in coal- or gas-fired power generation.

The difference is about one job for every two gigawatt house (GWh) of energy produced. The averages are:

• Fossil fuels – 0.15 jobs per GWh, with gas being the least productive.
• Renewables – 65 jobs per GWh.
• Renewables and energy efficiency togetehr – 0.80 jobs per GWh.

In value for money, renewables and energy efficiency outshine fossil fuels, creating  between five and 10 for new net jobs every £1million invested. Averages:

• Fossil fuels – 6 jobs for every £1million invested (coal 7, gas 5).
• Renewables – 16 jobs per £million.
• Energy efficiency – 14 jobs per £million.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at  Shale gas bubble – not worth the pop for jobs or energy security | ToUChstone blog: A public policy blog from the TUC.