Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia 2020
Tasmania summary
June 2020
isf.uts.edu.au
Background
The first National survey of Renewable Energy
jobs in Australia
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 2
Objectives
• Improve estimates and understanding of renewable energy employment
• Facilitate better workforce planning to avoid future skill shortages
• Identify opportunities for regional jobs and managing energy transition
• Fully study and methodology available from https://bit.ly/REjobs_Au
isf.uts.edu.au
Scope of study
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 3
1. All direct jobs (development, construction/installation, operation and maintenance, manufacturing)
2. Some indirect jobs are included (transport, warehousing, but not professional services, or R&D)
3. Induced jobs are not included (e.g. expenditure of construction workers in regional towns)
4. Some areas were not covered
• Renewable hydrogen
• Metals for renewable energy
• Bio-energy
• Electricity networks
• Professional services (R&D etc)
• End of life recycling, reuse and
disposal
isf.uts.edu.au
Renewable Energy Scenarios – Tasmania
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 4
AEMO scenarios from the 2020 Draft Integrated System
Plan were used for the study:
• Under the Central Scenario (i.e. BAU), there is almost
no growth in renewable capacity
• Under the Step Change scenario, installed capacity
increases to more than 6 GW by the late 2020s, driven by
hydro and wind and rooftop solar
• Under the High DER scenario, installed capacity grows
moderately to 4 GW.
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
20
20
20
22
20
24
20
26
20
28
20
30
20
32
20
34
Inst
alla
ed
Cap
acit
y (M
W)
TAS: Central Scenario
Distributed batteries Utility batteriesRooftop PV Utility SolarPumped hydro HydroWind
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
20
20
20
22
20
24
20
26
20
28
20
30
20
32
20
34
Inst
alla
ed
Cap
acit
y (M
W)
TAS: Step Change Scenario
Distributed batteries Utility batteriesRooftop PV Utility SolarPumped hydro HydroWind
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
20
20
20
22
20
24
20
26
20
28
20
30
20
32
20
34
Inst
alla
ed
Cap
acit
y (M
W)
TAS: High DER Scenario
Distributed batteries Utility batteriesRooftop PV Utility SolarPumped hydro HydroWind
isf.uts.edu.au
How many Renewable Energy jobs?
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 5
Based on the AEMO 2020 Integrated System Plan scenarios, jobs under the Central scenario (BAU) and the High DER scenario shrink somewhat and then stay mostly steady.
In the Step Change Scenario there is a very large peak in the mid to late 2020s, when new hydro and wind schemes are under construction, and jobs remain close to double current levels.
• Under the Central Scenario (i.e. BAU), there are several hundred jobs lost, and then things plateau until the late 2020s. Jobs average 700 over the period.
• Under the Step Change scenario, there is a large peak in employment in the mid 2020s, followed by a return to about 1,500 jobs. Jobs average 1,900 over the period.
• The High DER scenario is similar to the Central scenario, with a slightly higher average of 900 over the period.
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034
TAS: Renewable Energy Jobs
Central Step Change High DER
Central 700Step Change 1,900High DER 900
AVERAGE JOB NUMBERS
isf.uts.edu.au
Where are the Renewable Jobs – capital cities vs regions?
TITLE | Institute for Sustainable Futures 6
STEP CHANGE SCENARIO, 2025
isf.uts.edu.au
Jobs growth by technology and scenario
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 7
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Step Change Scenario
Rooftop PVUtility SolarSolar water heating
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Central Scenario
Rooftop PVUtility SolarSolar water heating
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: High DER Scenario
Rooftop PVUtility SolarSolar water heating
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Step Change Scenario
Pumped hydro Hydro
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Central Scenario
Pumped hydro Hydro
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: High DER Scenario
Pumped hydro Hydro
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Step Change Scenario
Wind
Wind repowering
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gyTAS: Central Scenario
Wind
Wind repowering
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: High DER Scenario
WindWind repowering
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Step Change Scenario
Distributed batteries
Utility batteries
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: Central Scenario
Distributed batteries
Utility batteries
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
JOBS
(FTE
) by
tech
nolo
gy
TAS: High DER Scenario
Distributed batteries
Utility batteries
isf.uts.edu.au
O&M jobs make up more than three quarters of the renewable work force
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 8
• O&M jobs constitute most of the renewable jobs in Tasmanian because of the high proportion of hydro, although an increasing
number of wind farm jobs are also O&M.
• All scenarios have well around three quarters of renewable jobs in operations and maintenance. The Central scenario has the
highest percentage of O&M jobs (86%) at 2035, as so little new renewable capacity is being built. In the Step Change scenario
at 2035 O&M jobs are 76% of RE jobs, and in the High DER they are 79%.
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
20
20
20
22
20
24
20
26
20
28
20
30
20
32
20
34
JOB
S (F
TE)
by
typ
e
TAS: Step Change Scenario
Manufacturing (domestic) Development and construction
Operations and maintenance
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
20
20
20
22
20
24
20
26
20
28
20
30
20
32
20
34
JOB
S (F
TE)
by
typ
e
TAS: High DER Scenario
Manufacturing (domestic) Development and construction
Operations and maintenance
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
20
20
20
22
20
24
20
26
20
28
20
30
20
32
20
34
JOB
S (F
TE)
by
typ
e
TAS: Central Scenario
Manufacturing (domestic) Development and construction
Operations and maintenance
isf.uts.edu.au
What are the key occupations across renewable energy (%)?
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures9
Note: the figures are an average for each occupation in the Step Change Scenario 2020-2035 across Australia. Some of the minor occupations have not
being included in the detailed figure.
1-in-5 renewable energy
workers are electricians
& trade assistants
3.6
5.2
5.4
3.1
2.6
4.5
3.4
2.9
2.8
2.7
0.8
13.6
2.7
1.5
1.7
4.0
3.9
1.2
1.8
1.6
4.8
6.1
2.6
0.9
3.1
1.9
1.1
EXECUTIVES & SENIOR MANAGERS
CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGERS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATION & SALES MANAGERS
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
HEALTH, SAFETY, QUALITY & ENVIRONMENT
FINANCE, BUSINESS, LEGAL & PLANNING PROFESSIONALS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING & SALES
CIVIL MECHANICAL & SCADA ENGINEERS
ACCREDITED PV DESIGNERS
TRANPORT, LOGISTICS & PROCUREMENT
IT PROFESSIONALS
ELECTRICIANS
MECHANICAL TRADES & TECHNICIANS
CONSTRUCTION TRADES
METAL TRADES & NON-TRADES
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
DRIVERS
CRANE & HOIST OPERATORS
STOREPERSONS & PACKERS
EARTHMOVING & OTHER CONSTRUCTION MACHINES
SOLAR ROOFERS
ELECTRICAL TRADE ASSISTANTS
BATCH PLANT OPERATORS & CONCRETERS
STEEL FIXERS
GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LABOURERS
ASSEMBLY LABOURERS
PROCESS WORKERS
isf.uts.edu.au
New hydro and pumped hydro will require large volumes of construction workers (%)
Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia | Institute for Sustainable Futures 10