The UK Government must “back Scotland’s pipeline in its strategic energy plans”, Scottish Renewables has said ahead of the Budget as new research shows thousands of jobs were supported by Scotland’s renewable energy industry in 2024.

An independent report by the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute, commissioned by Scottish Renewables, found that Scotland’s renewable energy industry supported an estimated 49,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and £14.9 billion of economic output in 2024.

The report found that offshore wind supported the most employment of any renewable energy technology in 2024, with an estimated 18,800 FTE jobs across Scotland.

Onshore wind supported 17,825 FTE jobs, followed by hydropower with 4,100 and renewable heat with 3,025.

Ahead of the Budget on Wednesday, Scottish Renewables called on the UK Government to remove barriers to investment.

Chief executive Angela Hepworth said: “Scotland’s renewable energy industry is a major engine of economic growth,…