THE growth in "green" employment could lead to 35,000 people working in the sector in the UK by 2020, a report has predicted.

The Government's push to meet renewable energy targets will create employment opportunities in a number of areas, a Department of Trade and Industry survey found.

The industry, including wind and wave power, could bring significant economic and social benefits to the UK. About 8,000 jobs are already dependent on renewable energy, but this could rise to between 17,000 and 35,000, the report said.

Energy Minister Stephen Timms said: "The development of renewable energy is an important part of our efforts to tackle climate change.

"But it also offers a huge opportunity to enhance our manufacturing capacity and provide new employment, particularly in the remoter areas."

The Government has set a target of ten per cent of the UK's energy needs being generated by renewable means by 2010, increasing to 20 per cent by 2020.

Robin Oakley, renewables campaigner for Greenpeace, said: "The opportunity for a new industry for Britain in clean, safe, renewable energy is there for the taking.

"We urgently need clean energy to protect the environment from climate change, but this report proves that renewable technology also has massive social and economic benefits and will create thousands of new jobs."