Projects with the potential to create up to 10 million jobs and unlock $2trn of investment are pinpointed by a new study of the global renewable energy pipeline.

Analysis of 47 countries by Ernst & Young for the European Climate Foundation found 13,000 'shovel-ready' projects said to amount to a terawatt of new power capacity if fully built-out.

The figures lay bare the staggering scale of the economic potential in the "visible pipeline" of renewables projects that governments could unleash with supportive policies and targets, said a study analysing the findings.

The highest potential job creation is found in China and the US, with two million and 1.8 million roles respectively, according to EY.

The study's authors also looked in more depth at three markets - the UK, South Africa and Turkey. In the UK's case, the report reckons some 625,000 jobs are up for grabs once transmission and storage posts are added to those directly on offer from the renewables pipeline.

That would be enough to wipe out 90% of the jobs lost In Britain as a result of the Covid pandemic, said EY, with particular benefits flowing to northern regions further away from the most prosperous areas in southeast England.

To achieve the full benefit, the report's authors urged the UK to adopt a range of policies, including targets for onshore wind and solar to run alongside the 40GW offshore wind goal for 2030, and a more ambitious programme to sign contract-for-difference (CfD) deals with onshore renewables.

Serge Colle, EY global energy advisor, said: "This new report highlights the huge potential to accelerate private sector renewables investment through applying the best government policies and regulatory frameworks through global collaboration between governments and the private sector."