According to a report released this week by IRENA, more than 7.7 million people worldwide are now employed by the renewable energy industry, an 18 per cent increase from last year. The bioenergy sector accounts for over 2.9 million jobs, including liquid biofuels (1.78 million), biomass power and heat (0.82 million) and biogas (0,38 million). This means that 38 per cent of all jobs in the renewable energy industry are provided by the global bioenergy sector, almost half a million more than the PV solar industry (2.4 million) and nearly 3 times more than the wind power industry (1.04 million).
The report, Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2015 shows that like previous years, renewable energy employment is shaped by regional shifts, industry realignments, growing competition and advances in technologies and manufacturing processes. Jobs in the renewable energy sector are increasingly being created in Asia.
“We are seeing the widest spread of employment through renewable energy this year. Five of the 10 countries with the most renewable energy jobs are now located in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Bangladesh.” – IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.
As a result, even with continued jobs growth, the European Union and the United States now represent 25 per cent of global renewable energy jobs, compared to 31 per cent in 2012. The 10 countries with the largest renewable energy employment figures are: China, Brazil, the United States, India, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, France, Bangladesh and Colombia. For renewable energy employment to continue to grow, supportive policies should be used. “In order to maximise job creation from renewable energy deployment, governments need to implement a mix of cross-sectoral policies that encourage deployment, stimulate investment in local industries, strengthen firm-level capabilities and promote education and research.” – Rabia Ferroukhi, IRENA Deputy Director, Knowledge, Policy and Finance Centre.
The importance of bioenergy as a major driver for economic growth will be the topic of a high level round table discussion, held on 1st June during the opening session of the 23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition in Vienna. The round table, “Bioenergy and Economic Growth“moderated by Paolo Frankl, Head of the Renewable Energy Division, IEA International Energy Agency, and the panel of international subject experts icludes:
- Elisabeth Köstinger, European Parliament;
- Giovanni De Santi, Director, Institute for Energy and Transport, DG JRC, European Commission;
- Morteza Fesharaki, CEO, HERZ Energietechnik GmbH, Austria;
- Michael Paula, Section Head, Austrian Ministry of Science and Research (invited).
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