Employment creation potential of renewable power generation technologies: A life cycle approach

The present study analyses the employment characteristics of nine different renewable power generation technologies: two types of solar photovoltaic, wind, small-scale hydro, geothermal, wood biomass and three types of biogas. The analysis uses a Renewable Energy-Focused Input-Output model that the authors developed to analyse life cycle environmental and socio-economic impacts of renewable power generation technologies and policies. The analysis reveals that there are distinctive differences among the nine technologies' impacts on employment. The total employment creation potential over the life cycle is estimated to be in the range of 1.04-5.04 person-years per GWh. Furthermore, the nine technologies have unique features regarding how many and what kinds of jobs are created across the whole life cycle; the introduction of these technologies into an economy directly and indirectly induces jobs in different industrial sectors reflecting their technological characteristics. On the other hand, the nine different technologies have a common employment effect in that they create relatively high employment opportunities in the service sectors such as wholesale trade, non-life insurance, and judicial, financial and accounting services. The present study reveals quantitative employment characteristics of the different types of renewable power generation technology to provide valuable information for renewable energy policy making.