6.5 Million Jobs globally provided by Renewable Energy in 2013: IRENA

A new study Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2014 was released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on 11 May 2014.

The study revealed that approximately 6.5 million people were already employed in the renewable energy industry worldwide in 2013 which increased from 5.7 million in 2012.

The study was presented at the Clean Energy Ministerial Level Meet in Seoul, South Korea. The meet was attended by energy ministers and other high-level officials from 23 countries. The study highlights the important role that renewable energy continues to play in employment creation and growth in the global economy.

Highlights of the study:

•    Renewable energy employment was shaped by regional shifts, industry realignments, growing competition and advances in technologies and manufacturing processes in 2013.
•    The largest employers by country are China, Brazil, the United States, India, Germany, Spain and Bangladesh.
•    The largest employers by sector are solar photovoltaic, biofuels, wind, modern biomass and biogas.
•    IRENA estimated a five-fold increase of solar PV installations in China from 2011 to 2013.
•    In the wind industry, China and Canada provided positive impulses while the outlook for the United States remains somewhat mixed because of political uncertainty.
•    The offshore wind industry is still concentrated in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom and Germany.
•    The biofuels value chain provides the second largest number of renewable energy jobs after solar PV. The United States remains the largest biofuels producer, while Brazil remains the largest employer.

About the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA):

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is mandated as the global hub for renewable energy cooperation and information exchange by 131 Members (130 States and the European Union).

The Agency promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.