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IRENA – Global geothermal workforce reaches 99,400 in 2019

IRENA – Global geothermal workforce reaches 99,400 in 2019 Employment in the renewable energy sector by technology 2019 (source: IRENA)
Alexander Richter 2 Oct 2020

In its annual report on employment in the renewable energy sector worldwide, IRENA estimates a workforce of 99,400 in the geothermal sector (power and heat) worldwide with 40% in the European Union.

Last month, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released its annual review of “Renewable Energy and Jobs”.

Renewable energy technologies create jobs and up and down the supply chain and can spur broad and sustainable social and economic development. Renewables accounted for an estimated 11.5 million jobs worldwide in 2019, up from 11 million the previous year, according to this seventh edition of the Renewable Energy and Jobs series.

While few large markets still account for the bulk those jobs, employment in renewables has started spreading more widely, especially through the proliferation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Solar PV accounted for 33% of the world’s renewable energy workforce in 2019. Asia accounted for 63% of total jobs in renewables.

Off-grid decentralised renewables account for increasing numbers of direct jobs, especially in Africa, as well as propelling employment in agro-processing, health care, communications, local commerce and other productive uses, the report finds. Latin American renewables jobs are concentrated in biofuels and hydropower.

Employment opportunities are a key consideration in planning for low-carbon economic growth. Many governments have prioritised renewable energy development, firstly to reduce emissions and meet international climate goals, but also in pursuit of broader socio-economic benefits. Renewables could support an improved gender balance in the future energy sector. Women currently hold an estimated 32% of the world’s renewable energy jobs.

To build the skills base for the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, countries will need more vocational training, stronger curricula, more teacher training and expanded use of information and communications technology for remote learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the need for renewables to meet social, economic and environmental needs.

As of the year end of 2019, IRENA reports around 99,400 jobs in the geothermal energy sector (power and heat applications), in the European Union alone around 40,600 jobs are in the geothermal sector (which includes 8,700 jobs in the heat pumps sector for the EU).

How far the reporting includes indirect jobs created through technology deployment by geothermal, and the other renewable energy technologies is a bit unclear. Yet, one can say that the impact of geothermal on the benefits in local employment and economic opportunities is always underestimated.

You can download the report here (pdf).

Source: IRENA