Renewable energy can create 9,300 jobs by 2030

The nation's power sector will create at least 9,300 jobs in the renewable energy sector if the government can fulfil its target of renewable energy usage by 2030, a study conducted by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) found yesterday.

It said the country would need an integrated and comprehensive plan to enhance the skills of manpower through proper training and re-training alongside curriculum development in universities.

As such, the study, titled "Energy Transition in Bangladesh: Its Implication on Employment and Skills in the Power and Energy Sector", recommended investments in workforce development immediately.

It mentioned the target of the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, which aims to make the country capable of generating at least 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from renewable sources, including solar power plants and wind farms, by 2030.

"If it is implemented, the number of employees will reach 13,778. It stands at around 4,500 now," read the study.

The CPD considered two "job function" groupings to calculate the figures. The first considered construction, installation, and manufacturing while the second considered operations, maintenance and processing.

Technical posts will be required as well, including renewable energy technicians, energy storage specialists, smart grid engineers, energy analysts, environmental planners and consultants, energy efficiency experts, green building designers and architects.

Besides, conventional posts such as those of executives, sales and marketing officers and mechanical, chemical and electrical engineers will be needed as well.

The lead author of the study, CPD Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem, gave a presentation at the Brac Centre Inn auditorium.

He said energy transition was not solely a technical alteration, but also represents a transition in production techniques and covers a broad range of economic, social, and environmental aspects.

"This transition involves various players and technologies, requiring interdisciplinary skills encompassing engineering, economics, environmental science, and politics for successful management," he said.

"As energy infrastructure becomes more interconnected and digitalised, the importance for cybersecurity experts to protect against cyberattacks on critical energy systems will increase," he added.

As per the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, overall projected electricity generation will reach 28,975 MW in 2030, with renewable energy's share increasing to 17.4 percent. Currently, it is only 4.6 percent.

This will result in a 27.8 percent reduction in the use of fossil fuels and an 80.1 percent increase in renewable energy use within seven years, read the study.

"Within only seven years, the target is very challenging," said Dr Ijaz Hossain, former professor at the chemical engineering department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

"The reality is that 2030 is very near. We are already on the wrong track," he said.

He added, "We live in a country where sunlight is one of our major resources, but during the day, we need to conduct load-shedding. Otherwise, we need to use costly furnace oil to produce electricity."

The CPD recommended redesigning academic courses, promoting industry-academia collaboration, supporting local manufacturing, creating green job reporting mechanisms, developing transitional plans for fossil fuel workers and conducting more research on emerging issues and concerns.

Additional Secretary to the labour and employment ministry Fahmida Akhter, Rector at Bangladesh Power Management Institute Mohammad Alauddin, President of International Business Forum of Bangladesh Humayun Rashid and Professor Khosru Md Selim of Independent University, Bangladesh also spoke at the event.