Renewable energy is increasingly becoming an attractive investment worldwide and a rising number of countries are manufacturing, trading and installing renewable energy solutions. A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that the penchant for renewable energy supported 11 million jobs worldwide in 2018; an increase of 7 per cent from the year before.

This corresponds to the development in Denmark, where the job growth has been enormous. From 2014 to 2016, the number of green energy jobs grew six times as fast as business community jobs in general.

-Related solution: Old industrial site transformed into solar collector field.

Wind contributes with 1.2 million jobs

Of the global renewable energy employment, wind power supports 1.2 million jobs. In this connection, Europe holds a strong position in domestic installation – particularly with a high expertise on offshore wind – and the export of turbines and foundations.

As offshore wind power is gaining traction worldwide, European export holds the potential to create even more renewable energy jobs in the future.

The demand for wind technology provides an export potential, which Denmark already benefits from. In 2016, Denmark alone accounted for 42 per cent of global exports in wind power making the country a global leader in wind technology and installation, the IRENA report highlights.

-Related solution: World's largest offshore wind farm.

China hosts almost half of green energy jobs

Global employment in the renewable energy sector remains concentrated in a handful of countries: China, Brazil, the United States and India. Of these China is in the lead with 39 per cent of the total green energy jobs worldwide.

However, looking at the employment in the green energy sector as a share of the total labour force, Denmark is among the top. In China, renewable energy employment accounts for 0.54 per cent of the total workforce, whereas 1.1 per cent of Danish jobs are in the renewable energy sector.

Source: IRENA: Renewable Energy and Jobs - Annual Review 2019