Renewable energy sector will create 3 lakh jobs

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has prepared a blueprint to create 3 lakh jobs till 2020 in the renewable energy sector. A long-term target to create 14 lakh jobs by 2025 has also been set, according to sources.

New and Renewable Energy Minister R.K. Singh has been assigned to work on the target of creating more jobs in the renewable energy sector, the sources said. According to the plan, 34,600 potential jobs will be created for people to work in the wind power segment, 58,600 in utility (farm-based) solar projects and 238,000 in rooftop solar jobs in the next two years.

The MNRE’s blueprint on job creation in the renewable energy sector reads: “Besides solar farms, the labour-intensive rooftop solar segment has the potential to employ 70% of the total workforce needed in the solar projects in the country.  More than 300,000 new workers can be employed in wind and solar jobs within a two-year time span.” India’s clean energy workforce comprises solar installers, maintenance workers, engineers, technicians and performance data monitors. Think tanks dedicated to solar and wind power energy have also stressed that strong growth in the domestic solar manufacturing industry could provide huge job opportunities.

Suresh Tomar, former member of the Solar Energy Development Consortium, told The Sunday Guardian: “As per MNRE’s estimates, the country’s solar power capacity will increase by 360%. The growth scenario is creating huge job opportunities. Tasks related to conservation, consultation, engineering analysis, product design, project management, optimisation and facilitating management will also guarantee jobs.”