January 28, 2022
Compared to 12,400 new workers employed in FY19, only 6400 were employed in FY21
India has trained 78,000 people to improve the readiness of skilled workers for clean energy projects
The upcoming Union Budget will focus on improving the setting up of rooftop solar, mini- and micro-grid systems, and domestic solar manufacturing to maximise employment opportunities in the sector
This independent study was conducted by the CEEW, NRDC, and SCGJ
India’s renewable energy sector could potentially employ around 1 million people by 2030 – 10 times more than the existing workforce of an estimated 1.1 lakh current employees, as per an independent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ).
The study – India’s Expanding Clean Energy Workforce – emphasized that most new jobs would be generated by small-scale renewable energy projects such as rooftop solar and mini and micro-grid systems. The report also highlighted the adverse impact of the pandemic on employment in the renewable energy sector. Compared to 12,400 new workers employed in FY19, only 6400 were employed in FY21. However, the majority of the new workers were employed in the rooftop solar segment where annual capacity additions accounted for 1.4 GW capacity and grew by 9% over FY20.
The study further stated that between 2015 and 2017, India trained 78,000 people under the Suryamitra program to improve the readiness of skilled workers for clean energy projects. It is expected that the upcoming Union Budget will focus on improving the setting up of rooftop solar, mini- and micro-grid systems, and domestic solar manufacturing to further boost employment opportunities in the sector.