2017可再生能源与就业机会年度回顾（英文版）_24页-5mb

Summary of Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2017

Core Content

The Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2017 provides a comprehensive overview of global employment trends in the renewable energy sector in 2016. It highlights the growth of the sector, the regional and technological distribution of jobs, and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Key Findings

• Global Renewable Energy Employment:
  The global renewable energy sector employed 9.8 million people in 2016, a 1.1% increase from 2015. Excluding large hydropower, renewable energy jobs increased by 2.8% to 8.3 million.

• Regional Distribution:
  62% of global renewable energy jobs were located in Asia, with China, Brazil, the United States, India, Japan, and Germany being the main contributors.

• Solar PV Dominance:
  Solar photovoltaic (PV) was the largest employer with 3.1 million jobs, up 12% from 2015. China accounted for over 50% of these jobs, followed by the United States and India. However, Japan and the European Union saw job declines due to slower installations and policy changes.

• Wind Energy Growth:
  The global wind sector employed 1.2 million people, a 7% increase from 2015. China led with 509,000 jobs, while the United States, Germany, India, and Brazil accounted for 35% of new capacity additions. Wind employment in the US rose by 28%, and Germany saw a 10% increase in offshore wind jobs, though total wind employment in the EU decreased due to reduced onshore activity.

• Bioenergy Employment:
  Liquid biofuels employed 1.7 million people, with Brazil, China, the United States, and India as key markets. Solid biomass and biogas employed 0.7 million and 0.3 million respectively. Despite growth in some areas, biofuel employment in the EU declined by 8.6% in 2015.

• Solar Heating and Cooling Decline:
  Employment in this sector fell 12% to 0.8 million jobs due to a slowdown in installations in major markets like China, Brazil, and the EU.

• Hydropower Employment:
  Large hydropower employed 1.5 million people, with 60% in operation and maintenance. China, India, Brazil, Russia, and Vietnam were the key job markets. Small hydropower employment dropped by 5%, while solar water heating employment fell to 690,000 jobs in China.

• Employment Trends by Technology:

  • Solar PV and wind saw the most consistent growth since 2012.
  • Bioenergy and solar heating/cooling faced declines due to automation and falling costs.
  • Large hydropower employment has been declining since 2013, mainly due to reduced new installations and increased productivity.

• Gender in Renewable Energy:
  Gender discrimination in the renewable sector is less pronounced than in traditional energy industries. However, challenges in employment and promotion remain. The MENA region was surveyed to understand barriers and identify actions such as mentorship, training, and diversity targets.

• Job Creation vs. Fossil Fuels:
  Renewable energy technologies generally create more jobs per unit of electricity generation than fossil fuel technologies. For example, solar PV creates more than twice the number of jobs per unit compared to coal or natural gas.

• Challenges to Employment:

  • Automation in manufacturing and O&M has reduced the need for labor.
  • Policy changes and low investment in some regions have led to job losses.
  • Trade policies have influenced employment, particularly in the solar PV sector.

• Future Outlook:
  With accelerated deployment, the global wind sector could reach 3 million jobs by 2030 and 4 million by 2050. The US solar industry is projected to grow significantly, with the potential to create more than 13 million jobs from 2016 to 2020 if current investment trends continue.

Conclusion

Despite a more moderate growth rate in recent years, the renewable energy sector continues to be a significant source of employment globally, with a positive trend compared to traditional energy industries. Solar PV and wind are the primary drivers of job creation, while bioenergy and solar heating/cooling face challenges due to automation and policy shifts. China remains the largest employer, followed by Brazil and the US, with Asia leading in job concentration. The sector is also showing signs of increasing gender diversity, although more work is needed to ensure equitable opportunities.