Lack of skilled labour could challenge renewable energy goal:

Close on heels of the launch of International Solar Alliance, a new analysis today said a lack of skilled workforce could pose a "significant" challenge in meeting India's ambitious target of 175 gigawatts of installed renewable energy by 2022.
The analysis released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) also said the renewable energy sector is expected to receive a big push during the 'Make in India' week starting tomorrow in Mumbai.
"The new analysis finds that the lack of a skilled workforce and quality training programmes could pose a significant challenge to meeting India's ambitious target of 175 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable energy by 2022," a statement said.

The ISA, a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was launched by him along with French President Francois Hollande at the recently held climate change conference in Paris.
The ISA aims to facilitate widespread deployment of solar power and development of the supporting ecosystem, including supporting skilling in member countries.
In its climate action plan submitted before the conference, India has announced that it plans to achieve around 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. It has also set an ambitious target of 175 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable energy by 2022.

The CEEW-NRDC analysis finds that solar developers will need a multitude of skilled workers across every phase of a solar project.

"To reach 100 GW of solar by 2022, India would need nearly 2,10,800 skilled site engineers and approximately 6,24,600 semi-skilled technicians for construction, most of whom would be needed to achieve the targeted 40 GW rooftop solar capacity addition.
The analysis noted that India's 100 GW solar target would
generate more than 1.1 million jobs by 2022 spread across business development (2 per cent), design and pre-construction (3 pc), construction and commissioning (72 pc), operations and maintenance (23 pc).

Noting that the 65 GW wind target is projected to create a further 1,83,500 jobs across the various phases of wind deployment, it said these projections do not include jobs created in the manufacturing sector, another significant jobs opportunity.
"Availability of appropriately skilled manpower is one prominent challenge and the solar sector may benefit from employing workers from conventional labour markets with relevant skill sets.
"The wind sector, however, is constrained by a lack of transferability of skills limiting the movement of skilled workforce between industries. Also, unlike the solar sector, the wind sector is less reliant on external skilling and certification placing much more importance on in-house and on-the-job skilling," it said.

"Make in India is not just about increasing domestic manufacturing but also about preparing a market that is conducive to the scaling up of renewable energy capacity. The ISA also recognises the importance of capacity building, with skills and training being central to its work.
"In this context, this timely report outlines the nature of skills essential for increasing renewable energy deployment in India and lays out a roadmap to upgrade these skills," the statement by CEEW quoted Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Upendra Tripathy as saying.
Noting that without 'Skill India', it would be difficult to meet 'Make in India' targets for the renewable sector, Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW said there is a clear need for improved training and certification programs, which are accessible to workers of varying backgrounds and skill sets in all states.

"Policymakers should also consider establishing at least one prominent solar training institute in each of the renewable energy clusters of the country, along with developing renewable energy training clusters near ongoing renewable energy projects," he said.