A recent study found that India’s solar and wind energy sectors experienced a significant increase in employment, with 52,700 new workers added, marking an eight-fold increase from the financial year 2021-22. Notably, this study was conducted jointly by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), NRDC India (Natural Resources Defence Council India), and Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ).
Dissecting the Study’s Findings
Statistics revealed by the study indicate that almost all of the new workforce was employed in the Solar Energy Sector, while the Wind Energy sector saw nominal growth, adding only 600 new workers. The total number of employees in India’s wind and solar sectors has reached 1,64,000 as of FY’22, showing a 47% rise from FY’21.
Despite this impressive growth, there has been a noticeable shortage of workers skilled in upstream manufacturing segments like making polysilicon, ingots, wafers, and cells. A majority of the present jobs are in assembling solar modules, an industry area that is the primary focus of the recently launched Rs. 19,500 crore (USD 2.43 billion) Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. The scheme aims to achieve 65 GW of domestic manufacturing capacity.
Potential Jobs and Skilling Needs
With current trends, new grid-connected solar (238 GW) and wind (101 GW) capacities could create approximately 3.4 million temporary and permanent jobs. However, it is crucial for skilling programmes to keep up with emerging needs from sectors such as solar module manufacturing, battery production, and hybrid projects.
The Prospects and Challenges of Green Energy in India
India, marked by its vast natural resources and rapidly growing population, presents immense potential for green energy. The benefits range from emission reduction and increased energy security to rural electrification and job creation. However, cost, grid integration difficulties, investment deficits, skill shortage, and land acquisition hurdles pose significant challenges to the renewable energy sector’s growth.
Government Initiatives towards Green Energy
The Indian government has taken several steps to promote green energy, such as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA), Green Energy Corridor (GEC), Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME), International Solar Alliance (ISA), and the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The Path Ahead for India’s Green Energy
To fully harness India’s green energy potential, these challenges need to be addressed strategically. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to drive investments and provide necessary training opportunities. Private enterprises can offer critical support by delivering skill development programs, while the government can stimulate private sector investment through tax breaks, subsidies, and other incentives.
Previous Year Question on Green Energy in UPSC Civil Services Examination
As a guide for prospective candidates, a previous year question (PYQ) from the UPSC Civil Services Examination was included – “Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problem of conventional energy.” (2013)