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Capacity factors and solar job creation

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  • Croucher, Matt

Abstract

We discuss two main job creation statistics often used by solar advocates to support increased solar deployment. Whilst overall solar technologies have a tendency to be labor-intensive, we find that the jobs per gigawatt hour statistic is relatively mis-leading as it has a tendency to reward technologies that have a low capacity factor. Ultimately the lower the capacity factor the more amplified the solar job creation number.

Suggested Citation

  • Croucher, Matt, 2011. "Capacity factors and solar job creation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 6914-6915.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:11:p:6914-6915
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.08.060
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wei, Max & Patadia, Shana & Kammen, Daniel M., 2010. "Putting renewables and energy efficiency to work: How many jobs can the clean energy industry generate in the US?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 919-931, February.
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    1. Bennett, Carly & Blanchet, Jocelyn & Trowell, Keena & Bergthorson, Jeffrey, 2023. "Decarbonizing Canada’s energy supply and exports with solar PV and e-fuels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    2. Wang, Jiangjiang & Zhou, Yuan & Lior, Noam & Zhang, Guoqing, 2021. "Quantitative sustainability evaluations of hybrid combined cooling, heating, and power schemes integrated with solar technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Cameron, Lachlan & van der Zwaan, Bob, 2015. "Employment factors for wind and solar energy technologies: A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 160-172.
    4. Ángel A. Bayod-Rújula & Juan A. Tejero-Gómez, 2022. "Analysis of the Hybridization of PV Plants with a BESS for Annual Constant Power Operation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-18, November.

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