By Helen Nolan August 17th, 2017

India has a goal to reach its renewable energy target of 160 gigawatts (GW) by 2022. This massive growth of newer renewable electricity sources will more than double India's large wind power capacity which currently, along with solar power, accounts for almost 14 per cent of India's installed power capacity.

India has a goal to reach its renewable energy target of 160 gigawatts (GW) by 2022. This massive growth of newer renewable electricity sources will more than double India's large wind power capacity which currently, along with solar power, accounts for almost 14 per cent of India's installed power capacity.

As well as increasing renewable power capacity fivefold making India a clean energy leader, the primary sector could generate jobs for about 80,000 people. In 2016-2017 the industry employed more than 21,000 people in India with an expectation to employ around 25,000 people in 2017-2018.

Employment opportunities in sub-sectors of renewable energy could see up to 300,000 jobs created as the Indian government has set yearly capacity addition targets designed to fuel the jobs growth. Of significance is the skill gap of employees who will need to be trained to construct and operate solar plants. It is recognised that this skill gap is a barrier to reaching the country’s renewable energy target.

According to professional services consultancy EY (formerly Ernst and Young), around 64% of India’s population is expected to be in the working age-group of 15-59 years by 2026 with the largest workforce in the world by 2025. Such employment potential in the green sector would absorb a significant chunk with most employees working in rooftop solar and the rest in ground-mounted solar and wind power industries.

According to Renewable Global Status Report 2017, India accounted for 5 per cent of the world’s renewable energy capacity in 2016, and invested US$9.7 billion in the sector. The significant rise in employment opportunities in renewable energy has reached other countries, with China, Brazil, the United States, Japan, Germany and India being the leading job markets. The employment opportunities continue to shift towards Asian countries which accounted for 62 per cent of jobs in 2016, compared to 50 per cent in 2013.





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