Renewable energy jobs to rise post pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a major economic crisis in the country, putting millions of jobs at risk. This has prompted the central government to announce a special economic package worth 10 per cent of GDP. A recent study, undertaken by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the National Institute of Public Policy and Finance (NIPPF), analyses how parts of this package could be used. According to this report, renewables could help in creating 1.3 million full-time jobs provided India achieves 160 GW of solar and wind power by 2022. Moreover, another 528,000 jobs could be created along with a viable renewable energy market by investing Rs 52,000 million during the period 2021-28. This would also reduce coal imports and increase the share of clean energy in the country. From 2028 onwards, no funding would be required for renewables owing to its cost-competitiveness. The report highlights distributed renewable energy, hybrid energy, emergency and disaster management systems, city gas distribution and urban transportation as the key emerging sectors with high potential post the pandemic.