Newscasts - Skills shortage hampers India's clean energy aspirations

Alpex Solar

20/11/2024 12:50

Click the following link to watch video: https://share.newscasts.refinitiv.com/link?entryId=1_hhl9h00w&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2024:newsml_RW116520112024RP1_K15&pageId=Newscasts
Source: 'Reuters - General news videos'

Description: India's mighty aspirations in the renewable industry are coming
up short as it grapples with inadequate government funding and a skills
shortage, potentially jeopardising its clean energy targets, industry leaders
said. Fiona Jones reports.
Short Link: https://refini.tv/3Z0UZuu

Video Transcript:

Rows of solar panels in India's northwest symbolize the country's mighty
aspirations for renewable energy. But its plans to expand domestic
manufacturing in the solar industry are coming up short. That is according to
experts, who say India is grappling with inadequate government funding and a
major skills shortage. This will potentially jeopardize its clean energy
targets: to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2070. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's "Make in India" program has allocated $3 billion as incentives for
local manufacturers. Yet, industry leaders say India - a major greenhouse gas
emitter - must significantly step up funding and training programs to reach
its environmental goals. Analysts estimate the need for 1.7 million skilled
workers by 2027, with the industry seeing a skills gap of 1.2 million already.
Aditya Sehgal is the CEO of Alpex Solar.

Now that we are hiring at an exponential rate, we are hoping the government is
able to introduce or push universities and schools in India to have a larger
focus on manufacturing in the renewable sector. So, being able to provide
hands-on training to students on how to maybe run machines, how to maintain
machines, right?

A shift in the direction of renewables could be really impactful for India.
Many manufacturers said that this skill shortage could also limit India's
plans to expand solar module exports, which touched $1.9 billion last fiscal
year, mainly to the US market