According to a recent survey, the switch to renewable energy is increasing job prospects in the US. The U.S. Department of Energy documents increases in renewable energy jobs across all energy sectors in its United States Energy & Employment Report 2022.
Out of the 7.8 million employees in the US energy sector, more than 3 million are in fields related to the country’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This indicates that in 2021, occupations linked to renewable energy were almost 40% of all energy jobs, The Hill reported.
Hybrid electric cars recorded the largest increase in employment within the motor vehicle industry, adding 23,577 new positions. In motor vehicles and component-part technology, this resulted in a 25% increase in the number of new employment overall.
The analysis states that COVID-19 was unable to halt the expansion of jobs for electric and hybrid automobiles. Contrast that with the energy industry as a whole, whose employment dropped significantly in 2020, by around 840,000 jobs.
At least 17,740 new jobs—a 3.3% increase—were created in the energy efficiency industry in 2021, which includes green technology for HVAC.
Biofuels had a 6.7% increase in employment within the fuels industry. Biodiesel fuels, waste fuels, and renewable diesel fuels are all included in this industry.
Batteries and smart grids witnessed significant growth in the transmission, distribution, and storage sector. Electricity networks known as “smart grids” effectively manage energy supply and demand by utilizing digital and other technology.
Smart grids, according to the US Department of Energy, are expected to boost employment by 4.9% in 2021, outpacing almost all other technologies in the industry. With 2,949 new employment, the battery industry expanded by 4.4%. Batteries are used in electric vehicles to store energy from electrical networks.
Wind and solar power generated significant advancements in the electric power industry. Out of all the power-producing methods, solar showed the most increase. In 2021, it increased by 5.4% and generated 17,212 employees.
This follows a challenging year for the solar sector in 2020 when 28,718 jobs were lost as a result of COVID-19.
With 3,347 new employment in the renewable energy sector established and a 2.9% increase, onshore and offshore wind enjoyed “continued modest growth.” According to the research, this keeps up a “pattern of consistent increase” over the previous several years.
In 2021, employees were also created in the hydropower, biofuel, and geothermal sectors of the electric power generating industry.