New energy minister Mairi McAllan has rehashed old boasts about Scotland’s renewables’ prowess only to find a sector cheerleader highlighting uncertainty about the supposed green jobs boom.

Ms McAllan told business leaders in Glasgow that Scotland’s status as a world leader had been confirmed by moves by international investors in recent days to support development in areas such as green hydrogen and offshore infrastructure development.

Speaking at the All-Energy conference Ms McAllan noted these included the ground-breaking ceremony at Sumitomo’s planned cable plant at Nigg which she found time to attend while facing the challenges associated with helping new first minister John Swinney find his feet.

“What a week,” crowed Ms McAllan, who claimed: “Accomplishments in recent years and this week alone serve to powerfully demonstrate what I believe is the case that Scotland is fast becoming a renewables powerhouse.”

She added: “I think it’s worth noting that that progress has been made whilst pursuing a just transition for our communities and for our workforce.”

By way of evidence to support her claim Ms McAllan said a community and renewable energy scheme launched by the Scottish Government has been a “vital part of grounding this work in Scotland’s communities” by providing over £65m funding for 900 projects.

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She appeared to be referring to spending under the £500m Just Transition initiative launched by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 after striking the Bute House power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens, which collapsed in April.

Ms McAllan did not provide any examples to demonstrate the value of the projects she referred to but insisted: “Scotland is........

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