Renewable Energy Brings 11 Million Jobs

Laxman Pai
Friday, June 14, 2019

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) eleven million people were employed in renewable energy worldwide in 2018. This compares with 10.3 million in 2017.

As more and more countries manufacture, trade and install renewable energy technologies, the latest Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review finds that renewables jobs grew to their highest level despite slower growth in key renewable energy markets including China.

The diversification of the renewable energy supply chain is changing the sector’s geographic footprint. Until now, renewable energy industries have remained relatively concentrated in a handful of major markets, such as China, the United States and the European Union.

Increasingly, however, East and Southeast Asian countries have emerged alongside China as key exporters of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam were responsible for a greater share of growth in renewables jobs last year, which allowed Asia to maintain a 60 per cent share of renewable energy jobs worldwide.

“Beyond climate goals, governments are prioritising renewables as a driver of low-carbon economic growth in recognition of the numerous employment opportunities created by the transition to renewables,” said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA.

“Renewables deliver on all main pillars of sustainable development – environmental, economic and social. As the global energy transformation gains momentum, this employment dimension reinforces the social aspect of sustainable development and provides yet another reason for countries to commit to renewables,” Francesco added.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind remain the most dynamic of all renewable energy industries. Accounting for one-third of the total renewable energy workflow, solar PV retains the top spot in 2018, ahead of liquid biofuels, hydropower, and wind power. Geographically, Asia hosts over three million PV jobs, nearly nine-tenths of the global total.

Most of the wind industry’s activity still occurs on land and is responsible for the bulk of the sector’s 1.2 million jobs. China alone accounts for 44 per cent of global wind employment, followed by Germany and the United States.

Offshore wind could be an especially attractive option for leveraging domestic capacity and exploiting synergies with the oil and gas industry.  

Categories: Offshore Energy Renewable Energy Renewables Energy jobs Jobs

Related Stories

TotalEnergies Signs LNG Supply Deal with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Chemical

Chinese Demand Spurs Global Wind Turbine Ordering

OPEC+ Has Oil Price and Demand Problems. It Should Solve Demand

The Mounting Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning Cost

A Hydrogen Balancing Act in Offshore Energy

A Look Inside the East Asia & Pacific Offshore Wind Markets

China’s First Offshore Wind Power SOVs Delivered

Shipbuilding: Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Delivered to Cadeler

Key China Energy Indicators to Track for the Rest of 2024

‘World’s Largest’ Floating Wind Platform on Its Way to Offshore Site in China

Current News

Valeura Energy Consolidates Thai Oil and Gas Assets

TotalEnergies Inks 15-Year LNG Supply Deal with China’s Sinopec

Shelf Drilling Secures $200M Contract Extensions with Chevron for Thailand Ops

Floating Wind and the Taming of Subsea Spaghetti

Impending Shortage of Jackups within Ageing Asia Pacific Fleet

Equinor Tries Again for a Japan Offshore Wind Lease

Yinson Production Concludes Minority Stake Sale in FPSO Anna Nery

Sunda Energy Pushes Back Chuditch-2 Appraisal Well Drilling Date

CNOOC Starts Production at Another Oil Field in South China Sea

ABS Takes Charge of Digital Twin Project for Petrobras’ FPSOs

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com