Many people once regarded solar too expensive to ever become a viable energy alternative. Even optimists regarded the industry as one with a bright future but a less certain present. But now, solar energy has become one of the most efficient and fastest growing sources of electricity in the world. More US workers are employed in the solar industry than in generating electricity through oil, gas and coal combined,
according to a recent US energy and employment report. Much of this workforce is involved in construction as solar photo voltaic (PV) projects are being built at a massive rate. Solar has become ever more popular, even as the price of oil has gone down, thanks to public and private investment and huge improvements in solar panel and battery technology.
The report details how improvements in solar technology, as well as the growth of the market, have been staggeringly fast. There’s been a 25% increase in the number of jobs that have been created in the solar PV sector since 2015 and this growth shows no signs of slowing down. There are 2.2 million Americans employed in energy efficiency, which refers to the design, manufacture and installation of energy efficient goods and services, such as solar panels. This area is projected to have the highest rate of growth in the energy industry at 12%, while electric power generation, which includes an increasing share of solar power, is second, with a projected increase of 7%. It is an exciting time to be involved in the sector but what jobs does the booming industry offer and how do they compare to alternative employment opportunities in the energy sector?
Solar offers a variety of job options for those looking for work in an exciting industry. The industry largely operates in two main strands: Small-scale, or rooftop, projects that add panels to homes, offices and other buildings; and utility scale solar power farms that generate large amounts of electricity for the grid. Small-scale is a boom industry as demand for installation of solar panels increases because of tax incentives and shrinking costs. Utility scale solar farms are taking off as well as advances in technology have increased efficiency. It is also now possible for utility scale solar farms to be built in climates like the UK, where the climate does not offer the year-round sunshine that PV technology has traditionally required.
As renewables begin to take the place of fossil fuels in generating electricity supply, it is only natural a portion of the jobs shift in a similar pattern. This applies to all fossil fuel related jobs but particularly those directly involved in the use of coal as an energy provider. The US coal industry has been shrinking rapidly in the last few years as old mines close and coal-fired power plants are being retired. Without new plants taking their place, this leaves workers who rely on these facilities for employment with an uncertain future. This process is now taking place in China, as the country begins an ambitious plan to increase electricity supply from renewable energy sources and cut pollution levels from its coal plants. This process is getting faster as renewable energy becomes ever more efficient.
Although clean energy is great for society as a whole, this is little comfort to workers in the fossil fuel industry who may lose their jobs as the energy economy shifts. One part of the solution to this problem is for the booming solar industry to absorb these hard-hat workers, who possess the perfect skill set necessary to work in solar.
A study, published in the journal Energy Economics, titled ‘Retraining Investment for U.S. Transition from Coal to Solar Photovoltaic Employment’ makes the case that retraining workers for the solar PV sector is the best hope for the many thousands of coal workers who will inevitably lose their jobs in the near future.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study found that “an operations engineer in the coal industry could undergo retraining to be a manufacturing technician and expect about a 10% salary increase.” There was a consistent pattern of former coal workers being able to get higher wages if they made an employment transition to solar. This pattern was borne out across the spectrum of employment, from the higher paid specialized roles, to solar contractors. Workers in coal mines and power plants have a huge inherent advantage as they have gone through
applicable training and possess ‘sophisticated safety experience’, according to the study.
The point regarding safety training is crucial as the majority of the jobs in solar are in construction. The rapid growth of the solar PV sector means that there is a need for solar contractors in the fields of installation, construction and manufacturing, as the industry continuously increases its capacity to keep up with consumer demand. Previous safety training is an attractive prospect for employers as getting experienced, safety conscious workers is a boost for a company’s safety culture, especially in construction. Hiring workers with past experience in a related field, when combined with digital technology such as
online onboarding software, reduces the time needed to get solar contractors up to speed, thereby leading to a more efficient and productive workforce. Making health and safety training a priority in your company has many benefits, increasing productivity, reducing accidents and can even bring down costs by lowering the cost of insurance premiums.
Fossil fuel workers may not have even considered working in the renewable energy industry in the past because the industry has made such giant strides compared to where it was just a few years ago. Between 2006 and 2016, electricity generated from solar expanded 5000%, according to the US energy and employment report. But the skills fossil fuel workers have are transferrable to the solar industry The mechanical skill set that fossil fuel workers have, makes them attractive potential employees for solar firms.
Much like fossil fuels, solar is a global industry, so the employment opportunities are not limited just to North America. Utility scale solar power farms are being built at a rapid pace across the Middle-East and China, as governments aim to cut levels of pollution and take advantage of solar’s increasing efficiency and lower costs. For example,
China installed half of all total solar capacity added across the world in 2016. Countries, like China, have realized that not only is solar a viable energy source, but that by investing in and promoting in the technology now, they have the opportunity to become global leaders in the next era of energy self-sufficiency and provision.
Better solar technology has been a catalyst for the boom in solar energy, from diamond-wire saws that more efficiently cut wafers, to better cells that provide more spark from the same amount of sun. Workers with mechanical skills will be in great demand in the solar jobs market. The boom is also driven by economies of scale and manufacturing experience that have been growing for the last decade, giving the industry an edge in the competition with fossil fuels. As the solar PV sector continues to grow, these advantages will only increase and make it a more efficient energy source able to compete with fossil fuels.
There are many compelling reasons to pursue a career in the field of solar energy. It offers a wide variety of employment opportunities, particularly for those with mechanical expertise and previous safety experience. The majority of work in the solar industry is in construction, where safety is highly valued, so having workers who put safety first is attractive for employers. Fossil fuel workers, in particular those in the coal industry, should consider a career in solar where they can obtain a better income in an industry with a bright future.
