India saw a substantial increase in its renewable energy workforce in 2022, with solar energy taking the lead. According to a report by IRENA in 2023, India added a remarkable 13.5 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, surpassing the previous year’s 10.3 GW, setting new installation records for the country.
In terms of job creation, India recorded approximately 988,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector in 2022. Hydropower was the largest employer, providing 466,000 jobs, while solar photovoltaic (PV) closely followed, engaging 282,000 individuals in various on-grid and off-grid systems.
Furthermore, India witnessed a significant increase in domestic solar module production capacity, which surged from 10.4 GW in 2021 to 24.7 GW in 2022. However, there was a disparity between capacity and actual production, with capacity utilization dropping from 36% to 28%, as reported in Wood Mackenzie’s 2023 study.
The utility-scale solar sector experienced an 83% growth in solar PV capacity, resulting in the creation of 72,700 jobs, a substantial increase from the 42,900 jobs in 2021. Meanwhile, employment in rooftop solar installations grew to 65,400 positions, compared to the previous year’s 43,000 jobs.
In contrast, wind energy in India had a relatively slower growth rate in 2022, with the country adding only 1.9 GW to its wind capacity, a significant difference from its peak installation of 4.1 GW in 2017, as noted by IRENA in 2023. The wind sector introduced just 600 new jobs in construction and installation in 2022. Despite this slow growth, India still holds significant potential, with an annual wind turbine generator manufacturing capacity of 10-12 GW, according to GWEC in 2023. IRENA estimates that the Indian wind sector provided 40,000 jobs in 2022, with operations and maintenance jobs accounting for nearly half of this total.
