The increasing importance of energy to India’s economy can be understood by the initiatives taken and the deadlines preponed to achieve the desired outcomes with aided India’s international expansion, including a noticeable increase in foreign exchange reserves and the gradual integration of India’s economy into the global economy.
From committing to achieve 40% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030 at COP 21, to leading ahead on this trend with 40.1% of the total installed electricity capacity, to fast track the approach to build a sustainable economy; India, within a short span of time managed to increase the share of renewable energy in its power generation.
Now, according to a study, India’s renewable energy sector could potentially employ around one million people by the year 2030. The existing workforce is estimated to be 1.1 lakh, and by 2030 it would be ten times the currently employed people in this sector. The study was released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC) and Skill Council for Green Jobs. The study revealed that most of the new jobs would be generated by small-scale renewable energy projects.
India’s Expanding Clean Energy Workforce:
The study titled, “India’s Expanding Clean Energy Workforce,” highlighted that most of the ‘green,’ new jobs would be generated by small-scale renewable energy projects including rooftop solar and mini-micro grid systems in comparison to utility or large-scale projects like solar parks.
Another point highlighted in the study was that the pandemic created an adverse impact on employment in the renewable energy sector. In comparison to FY19 in which 12,400 new workers were employed in this sector, only 5,200 workers were employed in FY20 and 6,400 were employed in FY21. Also, it is pertinent to mention that in FY21, a majority of the new workforce belonged to a rooftop solar segment where annual capacity additions grew by 9% over FY20 and accounted for 1.4 GW capacity.
The study further revealed that India has successfully trained 78,000 people under the Suryamitra training programme between the years 2015-2017, in order to improve the availability of skilled workers for clean energy projects. Suryamitra Skill development programme was initiated by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous institution of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The programme aimed to develop the skills of youth, considering the opportunities for employment in the growing Solar Energy Power project’s installation, operation & maintenance in India & abroad.
India witnesses fastest rate of growth in Renewable Energy Capacity in last 7.5 years:
India had committed to achieving 40% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030 at COP 21, as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Well, India is already leading ahead on this trend with 40.1% of the total installed electricity capacity of 392.01 GW. India has seen the highest growth in renewable energy capacity addition among all global economies over the last 7.5 years, with renewable energy capacity (including large hydro) increasing 1.97 times and solar energy increasing nearly 18 times.
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