NEW public cash for green energy may be a “step in the right direction” but is “nowhere near enough” to meet the government’s own jobs and manufacturing targets, unions warned today.

The rebuke came as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband invited applications to the £200 million Clean Energy Bonus scheme, offering financial support for green developers on condition they funnel investments and jobs into into areas suffering from deprivation or reliant on the fossil fuel sector. 

The government had set targets to boost domestic production in the green supply chain by 60 per cent by 2030, hoping to create 35,000 jobs in areas essential to a transition from fossil fuels, which are often reliant on imports such as wind blades and transmission cables.

Mr Miliband said: “We are backing our proud manufacturing, coastal and oil and gas communities with good jobs, skills and private-sector investment.

“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, kickstarting growth, delivering energy security and transforming towns and cities as part of the transition – from the ports of Nigg and Leith to the manufacturing hubs of Blyth and Hull.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “We should be making the towers, foundation and cables for zero carbon energy here – instead of paying other countries and importing them.  

“The Clean Industry Bonus is an essential step in this direction. It will help the North Sea workforce find good quality, secure jobs and boost UK industry.” 

Unite was more critical, however, as the union battles to secure a sustainable future for oil and gas workers at Grangemouth.

General secretary Sharon Graham warned: “The Clean Energy Bonus scheme is a baby step in the right direction but the funding on offer so far is nowhere near enough to transform offshore wind manufacturing in the UK.

“If the government is going to get anywhere close to its targets on domestic wind manufacture and green jobs it will need to come up with much more ambitious levels of investment and make sure that it delivers.”

Trade associations welcomed the news, with RenewableUK’s Dan McGrail arguing it could help “drive hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment into new manufacturing.” 

Energy UK’s Dhara Vyas added it would help “create job opportunities and maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind.”