There’s no denying that solar energy is helping to shape the world for the better. It’s an industry that provides individuals and businesses with clean energy, tackles climate change, and is continually evolving.
Clearly solar is an energy source to keep an eye on in a personal capacity. But why should you consider a career in such an industry?
Five reasons to consider a career in solar energy
Here are just a few of many examples of why a career in solar energy is so rewarding:
1. The solar energy sector employs a lot of people
Let’s face it: you don’t want to make a career move to an industry or sector that doesn’t have a real future for you. You want to satisfy yourself that there’s a high probability your job will be safe in the long-term future – particularly in these difficult times.
Thankfully, job security is relatively rife in solar energy. According to IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, jobs in renewables surged to 11.5 million globally last year, with solar accounting for 3.8 million of these.
And these numbers will only continue to grow. With multiple global governments announcing plans this year to reach carbon neutral status in the next decade, sustainable energy sources such as solar will be in increasingly high demand, which will create a significant need for more employees in solar.
2. Climate change is on everyone’s minds
Many of the world’s nations are continually looking at ways to produce energy for its citizens using sustainable methods. Climate change is a big problem for the world right now, and communities are increasingly becoming concerned about this subject.
A lot of nations are looking to increase their output of greener energy by investing in solar energy, including China, which currently produces 28% of the world’s total CO2 emissions each year. In order to reduce these levels, the Asian nation is investing in alternative energy sources, which includes hiring more green energy experts. In fact, China employs 39% of all people in the global renewable energy sector.
Solar energy is a clean way for countries such as China to generate electricity and reduce their carbon emissions. With that in mind, there will always be a demand for people to work in the sector.
3. There is a vast array of job choices in solar energy
It can be all too easy to assume that a career in solar requires candidates to have high-level technical knowledge or relevant degree. While some positions do indeed require some form of degree or skills in STEM subjects, it’s not required for all of them.
There are hundreds of thousands of solar energy roles that require candidates to have experience in other disciplines. For example, there are jobs within sales, marketing, consultancy, and support where you’d be working exclusively in the solar energy sector.
The key takeaway here is you don’t need a college degree to get a job in solar energy. Many firms in the industry even train employees for technical roles in installation and manufacturing. In short, there are plenty of opportunities, whatever your discipline.
4. You get to be part of something worthwhile
One of the regrets that some people have in their careers is working in jobs that aren’t particularly rewarding personally. The ability to give something back in your career is becoming increasingly desirable by multiple generations of employees.
The good news is that working in solar energy means that you’ll be part of something worthwhile. Getting a job in the sector isn’t just about earning money to pay your bills, it also offers you the chance to contribute to something that will ultimately help to change the world.
More people are drawn to working in solar energy because they feel their work contributes to a worthy cause – one that is effectively shaping the world as we know it.
5. The financial benefits are very attractive
Working in an industry where your role directly shapes the world for the better is one benefit. But, you still need to earn enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle. Thankfully, the financial benefits of working in solar energy are very attractive.
For instance, solar panel installers earn around $44,890 as a median salary. It’s also one of the fastest-growing occupations in a list compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And salaries are rising in many specialisms. In fact, the data from the BLS shows that solar panel installer jobs have experienced 51% growth in remuneration in the last year.
The world’s most impressive solar energy projects
If you thought that working in solar energy was only about installing photovoltaic panels on people’s roofs, think again. It might surprise you to learn there are several impressive solar energy projects globally that you could be working on:
Benban Solar Park (Egypt)
It’s no secret that Egypt is one country that enjoys plenty of sunshine each year. With that fact in mind, the nation launched an ambitious project to generate a significant amount of electricity through solar.
Benban Solar Park is a vast photovoltaic power station built approximately 650 km south of Cairo. It has a total capacity of 1,650 MWp and is the world’s fourth-largest solar power plant.
Longyangxia Dam Solar Park (China)
China has shown itself as an innovator in renewable energy and employs 39% of all people in the sector globally. It should therefore come as no surprise that they’ve built a solar power station of gargantuan proportions.
The Longyangxia Dam Solar Park stretches to around ten square miles in size and generates a jaw-dropping 850 MWp of electricity. It can use the sun’s energy to power almost 200,000 homes.
Cochin International Airport (India)
Aside from installing solar energy solutions or working at solar power plants, you could also potentially get involved in providing solutions to power large-scale transport hubs like airports.
One such example is Cochin International Airport, India’s seventh-busiest airport. What makes the airport unique from others in the country is that it runs entirely on solar energy. It even contributes unused energy to the electrical grid.
Conclusion
The solar energy sector is growing at a phenomenal rate, and with that growth comes many employment opportunities. There are several niche areas within solar energy where you can find a job and many exciting projects to involve yourself with that are highly rewarding.
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