The solar industry and employment

it's an exciting time to be in the solar energy industry. Technological advances hold much promise while the prices for solar panels continue to fall despite tariffs. The proliferation of solar energy is producing changes in the workforce. Solar energy once catered to a niche target audience and was very costly to install. That is no longer true and millions of homes and businesses have jumped on the solar bandwagon. Due to huge strides in the field of science and technology, solar power is now being harnessed efficiently enough that almost anyone can afford it. The benefits of solar energy are nearly boundless. Compared with capital-intensive fossil fuel technologies, the solar energy industry is sometimes more labor-intensive. Therefore, on average, more jobs are created for every unit of electricity produced by renewable sources than by traditional sources. Renewable energy sources are already creating thousands of jobs in this country alone. For example, in 2011, the wind energy industry directly employed over 70,000 full-time employees in a variety of capacities, ranging from construction and turbine maintenance to manufacturing and project development. Discussed below are few highlights of solar power and its new-found effect on some global economies and job markets.

Solar is a big creator of new jobs

The solar sector has become a new industrial realm over recent years, and as more and more people install solar panels in their homes and offices for meeting their energy needs, the solar industry is developing faster than ever before. In the United States, the solar industry has employed more than 350,000 people thus far and it is projected that by 2025, an additional 202,000 jobs are going to be created. There’s also some good job news for India, where unemployment has marred the world’s fastest rising economy. It is estimated that by 2022, the solar energy industry would create as many as 1.6 million jobs with over 600,000 jobs in the construction industry alone. But China and India are the world’s biggest polluters, so their appropriation of solar energy is most welcome and necessary for the health of the planet. Smog in China and India's urban areas remains an enormous problem.

Solar helps reduce weather-related calamities

Global warming increases the risk of dangerous events such as heat waves, droughts, intense storms, and severe wildfires which have become more common in recent years. Since solar energy is a renewable energy source, it is more resilient than fossil fuels and it provides its energy on a daily basis. Similarly, during a severe drought or heat wave, electricity generation faces some risk of power outages. With the usage of solar energy systems and wind turbines, the future of solar power in India looks brighter and safer, as water is not a necessary component for generating electricity, and solar systems help reduce perils associated with water scarcity too.

Solar’s prices are falling and not as volatile as fossil fuels

Solar energy is capable of generating affordable electricity solutions to countries as diverse as the USA and India and can help normalize the prices of non-renewable sources such as gas and diesel in the future. The good news is that the cost of renewable energy technology has continued to decline rapidly, and is estimated to drop even more.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

HahaSmart Blog - More Solar Tips and Guide
HahaSmart News - Stay Informed
Your Solar Incentives - See Credits and Incentives in Your Area
Check Your Home's Solar Price - See How Much You Save
Register Now - Unlock The Lowest Solar Prices in Your Area