India’s Clean Energy Push Could Generate 44 Lakh Jobs By 2030: Study Finds

Hyderabad: India’s clean energy targets, including the goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity and the national green hydrogen mission, could create more than 44 lakh full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs by 2030, says a study released by the council on energy, environment and (CEEW) and the natural resources defence council.

The study found that rooftop solar is expected to account for around 43 per cent of the projected jobs linked to India's clean energy goals. Between FY23 and FY26, select clean energy sectors added more than 6.5 lakh workers, with rooftop solar contributing the largest share at 62 per cent. PM-KUSUM accounted for 16.3 per cent, biomass power 12.6 per cent, and ground-mounted solar 6 per cent of the workforce additions.

According to the report, rooftop solar generates more employment because installations are carried out across individual homes, shops and buildings, requiring workers for customer outreach, site surveys, design, installation, grid connectivity and maintenance.

The study also highlighted gender disparities in the sector. Women account for only 11 per cent of the workforce in solar and wind deployment and manufacturing. Their participation is highest in rooftop solar at 15 per cent, followed by solar module manufacturing at 13 per cent, floating solar at 12 per cent and ground-mounted solar at 11 per cent. Nearly 61 per cent of women employed in the sector work in non-technical roles such as human resources, administration and accounting.

The report estimates that around 13 lakh FTE jobs could be created in operations, maintenance and manufacturing over the lifetime of clean energy projects and facilities. It noted that around 60 per cent of jobs in project deployment require highly skilled or semi-skilled workers, while 80–90 per cent of manufacturing jobs require technical skills.

Speaking about the prospects of job creation in clean energy sectors, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, secretary, ministry of new & renewable energy said, “The element of people's involvement is intrinsic to a successful green transition. Last year, we achieved about 51 gigawatts of solar and wind, and hopefully, this momentum will continue and expand in the subsequent years.”

Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, “India’s energy transition must also be a workforce transition. The opportunity is about creating livelihoods, building skills, deepening domestic supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach households, farmers, workers, and entrepreneurs while also adding gigawatts.”