If the renewable energy sector is to reach its full potential, it needs to not only invest in infrastructure, but in people too – particularly women. That is the overriding sentiment among industry leaders across the board, many of whom argue that gender diversity is not simply a buzzword to be bandied about in board meetings, but a critical factor in ensuring that regional and national economies flourish.

According to the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, diverse teams are proven to be more innovative, more productive and more profitable. Gender-balanced organisations are better at problem solving, decision-making and building resilient partnerships, all critical in a sector as complex as energy. The initiative adds that there’s also an economic imperative.

‘Africa needs all its talent at the table. Countries cannot afford to exclude half the population from the workforce, especially not in a sector central to development, investment and climate resilience,’ it says.

Nicola Cencelli, head of business development at Juwi Renewable Energy, elaborates. ‘Women play a pivotal role in the energy migration from fossil-fuelled to renewable. Especially in South Africa, where we have a dual energy and employment crisis,’ she says.

‘One needs innovative thinking to be able to solve South Africa’s unique problem. Innovation does not materialise out of one pot of people who think the same way and do things the way they’ve always been done. Women change the culture and bring a different perspective to solving the energy crisis – one which is inclusive and just.’ And this is where the renewable energy sector is still falling short, according to the latest statistics in the second edition of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (Irena) report that looks at renewable energy from a gender perspective. While the report finds that women hold 32% of full-time jobs in the global renewables sector, it states that this number hasn’t changed since 2019 when the agency first analysed the sector’s gender diversity statistics.

 ‘Behind every solar panel installed, every wind turbine constructed and every clean cooking stove delivered is a story – and too often, that story is missing the voices of women,’ says Irena director-general, Francesco la Camera. He adds that while women are the backbone of communities and are often the first to feel the weight of energy poverty, they remain under-represented in ‘design, deployment and decision-making processes related to renewable energy systems’.

One figure that stands out is that only 19% of senior managers or board members are women. As the report says, the sector still has a lot of work to do. ‘To realise the energy transition’s full potential, women must be recognised as equal partners and leaders in shaping the renewables-based future.’ To ensure that this happens, Irena is calling on governments to put measures in place, such as formalising gender equality in climate and energy policies, and employers to introduce mentorship opportunities and safe, respectful workplaces. Educational institutions, trade unions, civil society and corporates also need to play their part in expanding opportunities.

While the statistics highlight the scale of the challenge, several institutions and organisations in South Africa are working to ensure that more women enter – and advance within – the renewable energy sector. The non-profit company African Women in Energy and Power offers skills development programmes to help women create profitable projects. Meanwhile, the South African Wind Energy Association’s Management Development Programme for Women – designed by the University of the Witwatersrand’s Business School and launched in March 2023 – aims to address the skills gap in the renewable energy industry while accelerating the growth of senior female leaders.

Another important initiative is the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Saretec), based at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Bellville campus in Cape Town. The centre is the country’s first national renewable energy technology training facility, and it offers specialised industry-related and accredited training for the renewable energy industry, including short courses and workshops.

Late last year, trainees from communities across the Overberg region in the Western Cape began practical training at Klipheuwel Wind Farm as part of a wind turbine technician training initiative. After completing the programme, participants receive an accredited Quality Council of Trades and Occupations occupational certificate. The training, developed by Saretec, includes theoretical and practical components.

Nonini Makhothe, the economic development specialist at Klipheuwel Wind Farm, said she found several facets of the programme heartening.

‘The success of the programme’s first year has shown us the incredible potential within our communities and the capability of our young people,’ she said.

‘What is even more encouraging is the strong number of applicants this year, which demonstrates their determination to be part of the renewable energy sector. Their achievements are truly inspiring.’

That potential and enthusiasm simply need to be matched with the right tools for them to succeed in what remains a male-dominated sector, where women often still face bias and discrimination

Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, founder and CEO of the DLO Energy Resources Group, has highlighted the importance of these programmes and emphasises that while the continent advances towards cleaner energy systems, the human capital component must be a central factor of this transition.

‘The transition to cleaner energy must also be a just transition. Investing in infrastructure alone is not enough, we must invest in people.’

Through the DLO Academy, Mabhena-Olagunju helps do exactly that, supporting young Africans through vocational and project finance training. She was recently appointed a founding member of the Mission 300 Private Sector Council, an initiative led by the World Bank Group, the AfDB and the Rockefeller Foundation aimed at addressing Africa’s electricity access crisis.

Mabhena-Olagunju also spearheads the annual DLO African Women in Leadership Summit, which supports female entrepreneurs entering the renewable energy market.

‘We aim to use our platform to empower and support female entrepreneurs by providing them with guidance in identifying opportunities within the renewable energy market,’ she told Bizcommunity before last year’s summit in Johannesburg. Her inclusion on the Mission 300 Private Sector Council underscores the critical role of African private-sector leadership, particularly women leaders, in shaping the continent’s energy future.

Nonkosi Koranteng, deputy chair of the South African National Energy Development Institute, perhaps summed it up best at a recent Women in Energy breakfast session, saying that women across the energy ecosystem have been part of it for almost all their lives, not just as consumers but as providers, innovators and custodians of sustainability within households and communities too.

‘As early as the age of 10, women had to fetch firewood, often over long distances, to keep the fire burning. At times, dried cow dung was used as a renewable energy source. Energy security is not only about infrastructure, megawatts and technology; it is about inclusivity, justice and the courage to build the future where no one is left behind,’ she said.

By Philippa Byron
Images: Gallo/Getty Images