While renewable energy is often spoken about in relation to its important environmental benefits, there are multiple other advantages that deserve our attention as well. While there are a wide range of benefits to talk about, what we wanted to discuss today are the implications of renewable energy with regard to job creation.
The shift towards renewable energy sources is rapidly creating new opportunities, and will likely transform the energy-related job market, with the green energy industry becoming a major source of employment both locally and across the globe.
Installation & maintenance
One of the most notable, ongoing impacts of renewable energy on job creation is in the field of installation and maintenance. As renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines become more prevalent, both on a domestic and larger scale, there is a growing demand for skilled workers to install, operate, and maintain these complex energy systems.
As expected, this has led to the creation of a substantial number of jobs in the renewable energy installation and maintenance sector. As the industry continues to grow, the number of jobs is only going to grow in turn.
Production
Solar panels and wind turbines have to be made by someone, and as a result, the renewable energy production industry is likely going to cause a massive boom in job creation. This will consist of people designing and building complex technologies, from photovoltaic cells to lithium-ion batteries.
Many of these kinds of jobs will be highly skilled, leading to excellent employment opportunities for a wide range of job seekers. Those workers will need training, which will lead to further job creation when it comes to trade schools and other educational institutions.
Planning
Renewable energy projects are often highly complex, involving multiple different factors – from community engagement to environmental concerns, there are a number of important implications that deserve close attention.
As a result, there will be a number of jobs created to help with the planning element. From site acquisition and planning permission experts to stakeholder coordinators and budget managers, the managerial aspect is definitely not one to overlook.
Revitalising rural economies
An exciting factor worth mentioning is that the growth of the renewable energy industry will also have a positive impact on job creation in rural, remote areas that have typically suffered as a result of automated agriculture and the post-industrial age.
A lot of renewable energy projects, including wind farms and solar power plants, are generally located in rural regions, where natural resources for renewable energy are most abundant. These projects provide employment opportunities in areas that may have limited economic activities, helping to revitalise local economies, and creating valuable, ongoing employment opportunities for local communities.
It’s clear that the impact of renewable energy on job creation is going to be highly significant. The growing demand for renewable energy systems has already sparked new opportunities in installation, manufacturing, and project management, while revitalising economic growth in more remote, rural communities.
As the world continues to prioritise renewable energy as a solution for climate-related issues, the green energy industry will continue to play a pivotal role, leading to more and more jobs for us all.
We’d also like to extend a special thanks to Exagen for their industry insights that helped produce this article.v
