Over 1 Million Jobs in 2023? India's Renewable Energy Sector Powers Economic Growth

New Delhi: India’s renewable energy sector created over 1.02 million jobs in 2023, highlighting the nation’s leadership in clean energy and its commitment to fostering green jobs that promote economic growth.

Hydropower emerged as the largest employer in the renewable energy sector, with around 453,000 jobs, contributing to 20% of the global hydropower workforce. This placed India second only to China. The solar photovoltaic (PV) sector employed about 318,600 people across on-grid and off-grid systems. India added 9.7 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV capacity in 2023, ranking fifth globally in new installations, with a cumulative capacity of 72.7 GW by the year's end.

According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), developed in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the global renewable energy workforce grew to 16.2 million in 2023, up from 13.7 million in 2022. India played a key role in this growth. “As renewable energy continues to expand in India, it is driving both economic progress and sustainable livelihoods for millions,” said the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

India’s module manufacturing capacity reached 46 GW in 2023 and is expected to grow to 58 GW in 2024, positioning India as the second-largest PV manufacturer globally, after China. The report also revealed that the country had 238,000 jobs in grid-connected solar PV in 2023, an 18% increase from 2022, while 80,000 people were employed in the off-grid solar sector.

In terms of wind energy, India had a cumulative installed capacity of 44.7 GW in 2023, ranking fourth worldwide. The country added 2.8 GW of wind capacity during the year, marking a significant recovery after five years of slower growth. The wind energy sector provided jobs to around 52,200 people, with 40% in operations and maintenance, and 35% in construction and installation.

In addition to wind and solar energy, India’s renewable energy sector provided employment in other areas as well. Liquid biofuels created 35,000 jobs, solid biomass accounted for 58,000 jobs, while the solar heating and cooling sector employed 17,000 people. The biogas sector contributed 85,000 jobs, underscoring the broad range of employment opportunities within India’s renewable energy landscape.

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