According to Oxford Intelligence's "Renewable Energies 2008", a study of top executives in Renewable Energy companies worldwide and their plans for international development over the next 2-5 years, government policy remains the major motor for the successful implementation of international strategies.

Pro-Renewables policies will clearly support technology companies in the race to meet global energy requirements and in creating employment opportunities for British workers.

Michel Lemagnen, Research Director at the consulting firm Oxford Intelligence, said: "We believe that it is imperative for government to act now and to implement policies that will enable key renewable energy firms to develop their international footprint."

The UK is still far from reaching 2020 European renewable energy targets and with increased commitment towards nuclear as an alternative solution to fossil fuels, this sends potentially the wrong message to renewable energy technology firms.

86 per cent of senior executives in the Renewable Energies sector have firm international plans (creation of jobs and facilities) through to 2010 and 60% into 2013 plans. In the short term the focus will be on Western Europe and North America with a strong interest in Latin American and developing Asian markets. Companies consider the UK, USA, Brazil, and Canada as the most popular markets for foreign direct investment.

Compared to European neighbours Denmark, Germany and Spain, the UK has been slow at producing home-grown renewable energy firms - potentially even larger job creators than foreign firms investing in the UK.

"It's quite clear that the government can also invest in jobs and people by backing Renewable Energy technology companies and facilitating their global development plans - whether they be emerging British companies or foreign investors." added Lemagnen.

According to Oxford Intelligence wind, biomass and biofuels will be the strongest growth areas through 2010 in terms of new job creation. In the longer term, 2020 scenario, solar thermal, photovoltaic and biofuels are expected to be the most significant job creators.

The EREC estimates that the renewable energy sector in the EU-15 countries alone will employ the full time equivalent of more than one million employees by 2010 and around two million by 2020 and that the highest levels of capital investment will be in wind, solar thermal, biomass and photovoltaic.