India’s renewable energy sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by ambitious targets to increase non-fossil energy production capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
However, this rapid expansion has brought to light a significant challenge: a severe talent crunch.
Major corporations such as Tata Power, Adani Green Energy, Reliance, and others are grappling with a shortage of skilled professionals, which threatens to impede the sector’s progress.
India’s Renewable Energy Sector: The Scope of Talent Shortage
According to industry reports, the renewable energy sector in India is expected to create approximately 1.7 million jobs over the next three years, with about 30-35% being direct jobs and the remainder indirect.
Despite this potential for job creation, there is a glaring skills gap of 1.2 million.
Only about 450,000 individuals from the current pool of engineering graduates are deemed employable.
This disparity highlights the urgent need for reskilling and strengthening apprenticeship programs to meet workforce demands.
Top companies in the renewable energy sector, including Tata Power, Adani Green Energy, Reliance, Renew Power, Sterlite, Mahindra, and JSW, are all facing similar challenges.
These companies are expanding their operations and require a steady influx of skilled professionals to sustain their growth.
For instance, Mahindra Solarize, the Mahindra group’s solar solutions brand, is aggressively ramping up its workforce to maintain its position among the top three EPC contractors.
The renewable energy sector is also facing a leadership talent crunch.
Executive search firm WalkWater Talent Advisors highlighted that the sector is struggling to find experienced leaders to drive its growth.
The competition for talent from the same pool has led to escalating compensation and difficulties in retaining top talent.
This shortage of leadership talent could hinder the sector’s future execution and delivery of renewable energy projects.
Efforts to Bridge the Talent Gap
To address the talent shortage, companies are focusing on reskilling existing employees and expanding apprenticeship programs.
Sumit Kumar, Chief Business Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, emphasized the need for organizations to build a talent pool and focus on reskilling.
Currently, the solar sub-segment has about 10,000 apprentices, but other sectors have negligible numbers.
This indicates a significant opportunity for growth in apprenticeship programs across the renewable energy sector.
The ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana,’ aiming to install solar panels in 1 crore households and provide up to 300 units of free electricity every month, is expected to generate a significant number of new jobs through government initiatives.
Additionally, the Cabinet’s announcement to develop 12 smart cities across India will further boost job creation in the renewable energy sector.
India’s Renewable Energy Sector: The Future Outlook
In response to the local talent shortage, several Indian conglomerates, including Tata and Reliance, are recruiting expatriates and returning Indians for senior-level positions.
These professionals, sourced from the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, bring valuable expertise and experience to the sector.
This strategy is helping companies address the immediate talent gap while they work on developing local talent.
Despite the current challenges, the future of India’s renewable energy sector remains promising.
Companies like Adani Green Energy, Tata Power Renewable Energy, and Vikram Solar are intensifying their hiring efforts across various roles, including project management, data science, weather analytics, solar manufacturing, operations, and supply chain management.
These efforts are crucial for achieving India’s ambitious renewable energy targets and ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.
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