Move over, wind and solar — the battery industry is the new kid on the block packing huge job potential.
Two industries have largely dominated the renewable energy space in terms of jobs, investment, and overall economic potential: the solar panel industry and the wind turbine industry.
BlueGreen Alliance, a major non-profit organization consisting of experts on the cutting-edge of renewable energy advancement, projected that these two sectors could very well become the highest-paying green jobs in America in the near future — if they’re not already well on their way to achieving that.
But another sector is starting to come to the forefront with an increase in jobs so dramatic it could potentially overshadow both solar and wind jobs in just six years: battery manufacturing.
The Underdog of Green Jobs
Battery manufacturing has often been overlooked in the green economy.
“When most people think about the green economy, they think about renewable energy like solar power, wind turbines or hydro developments,” notes Joseph Boll, EcoCareers CEO.
Not many people may realize the vital role battery manufacturing plays in a clean energy transition, but battery technology has the potential to phase out a significant portion of fossil fuel demand around the world.
Battery Manufacturing Boom
According to a new study by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a domino effect in demand is causing the battery manufacturing industry to ramp up tremendously right now — and not just in the USA either.
This study “highlights the remarkable, exponential growth of battery sales, which is driven by a domino effect of battery technology adoption that cascades from country to country and sector to sector.”
The RMI noted, “As the domino effect gains momentum, batteries will become the biggest global clean tech market — larger even than wind turbines or solar panels.”
For instance, the United Kingdom’s government is already seeking to capitalize on this emerging market. That nation’s government has launched a UK Battery Strategy that aims to create more than 100,000 high-paying clean energy jobs, potentially employing thousands in both the manufacturing and supply chain sectors. If successful, the program would significantly contribute to the economy and set a global standard for green jobs related to battery manufacturing.
And this is just one example. The USA’s own Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is expected to create a similar number of opportunities, if not more.
“Those in manufacturing and looking to transition into renewable energy and those who want to get their start in the industry should keep watching this development and tap into resources like our online job board,” says Boll. “We can expect that jobs in battery manufacturing will begin to skyrocket soon, and jobseekers can take advantage of that to seize the opportunity of their lifetime.”