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Photovoltaic power

SOLAR POWER

The development and use of solar power has significant potential in the context of a Green New Deal. It can offer important social benefits in terms of job creation.

Photovoltaic power

Solar Generation V - a joint study by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) and Greenpeace International, published in

September 2008 found that much of the employment creation is at the point of installation (installers, retailers and service engineers), giving a boost to local economies. The report projects that 1,4 million jobs could be created in the PV sector by 2030 in Europe alone and 10 million worldwide.

Today, the PV sector employs at least 90,000 people in Europe, with 57,000 jobs in Germany, 26,800 in Spain, 3,500 in France (projected to 16,000 by 2012) and 1,700 in Italy.

Based on information provided by the industry, the study assumes that 10 jobs are created per MW during production and about 33 jobs per MW during the process of installation. Wholesaling of the systems and indirect supply (for example in the production process) each create 3-4 jobs per MW. Research adds another 1-2 jobs per MW.

Worldwide employment in PV-related jobs under Solar Generation Scenarios

Year

Installation

Production

Wholesaler

Research

Supply

Total

Advanced Scenario

2007

77.668

22.968

6.890

2.986

8.613

119.125

2010

220.162

62.546

18.764

8.131

23.455

333.058

2015

559.282

147.373

44.212

19.159

55.265

825.291

2020

1.632.586

393.530

118.059

51.159

147.574

2.342.908

2025

3.877.742

839.338

251.801

109.114

314.752

5.392.747

2030

7.428.118

1.406.841

422.052

182.889

527.565

9.967.465

Moderate Scenario

2007

77.668

22.968

6.890

2.986

8.613

119.125

2010

166.518

47.306

14.192

6.150

17.740

251.906

2015

486.219

128.121

38.436

16.656

48.045

717.477

2020

1.018.552

245.519

73.656

31.917

92.070

1.461.714

2025

1.806.321

390.978

117.294

50.827

146.617

2.512.037

2030

2.770.569

524.729

157.419

68.215

196.773

3.717.705

The table below compares actual market data with predictions from the Solar Generation scenarios and reveals that in most cases, the market has exceeded predictions.

Annual MW Installations Capacity:

Market versus 'Solar Generation' Scenario Predictions since 2001

Year

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Market results

334

439

594

1.052

1.320

1.603

2.392

SG I 2001 MW

331

408

518

659

838

1.060

1.340

1.700

2.150

2.810

SG II 2004 MW

985

1.283

1.675

2.190

2.877

3.634

SG III 2006 MW

1.883

2.540

3.420

4.630

5.550

SG IV 2007 MW

2.179

3.129

4.339

5.650

SG V 2008 MW

4.175

5.160

6.950

Solar Thermal

There are about 40,000 jobs currently in the rapidly expanding solar thermal industry in Europe. Germany is leading the way with an estimated 19,000 jobs and Spain second, with 9,000, ahead of Italy with 3,000. The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) points out that much of the jobs in the solar thermal industry are in retail, installation and maintenance and that the jobs created are primarily in SMEs.

Many countries in the "sun belt" around the equator could benefit from Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) (1) technology. A new study carried out by Greenpeace International and the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association looked at employment potential under several scenarios (2). It estimates that countries with the most sun could together create more than 200,000 jobs by 2020, and nearly 1,2 million in 2050. They could also save 148 million tonnes of CO2 annually in 2020, rising to 2,1 billion tonnes in 2050.

(1) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated light is then used as a heat source for a conventional power plant. A working fluid (usually water) is heated by the concentrated sunlight and is then used for power generation or energy storage.

(2) A reference or 'business-as-usual' scenario takes into account current policies and measures. It includes assumptions such as continuing electricity and gas market reform, the liberalisation of cross-border energy trade and recent policies aimed at combating pollution. A moderate scenario takes into account all policy measures to support renewable energy either under way or planned around the world. It also assumes that the targets set by many countries for either renewables or concentrated solar power are successfully implemented. Moreover, it assumes increased investor confidence in this sector following a successful outcome of the Copenhagen climate talks next December.

Sources:
- Solar Generation V, EPIA/Greenpeace, September 2008
- UNEP (Sept 2008): 'Green jobs: towards decent work in a sustainable, low-carbon world'.
- WWF, Low carbon jobs for Europe, June 2009.
- European Solar Thermal Industry Federation
- IEA SolarPACES
- Greenpeace International
- European Solar Thermal Electricity Association

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