How Women are Driving the Sustainable Energy Transition
The voices most often uplifted in the renewable energy transition, and the broader energy sector, are typically men. However, women have long been the unsung heroes of the industry. According to the World Economic Forum (2022), only one in five leadership positions in the energy industry are held by women. Despite this disparity, women have been leading the renewable energy transition through grassroots movements expanding leadership roles, research, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Female leaders such as Vibha Dhawan, Director General at The Energy and Resources Institute, and Gauri Singh, Deputy Director General at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), have worked to bridge the gender gap in the industry through their positions. Activists like Mani Khurana of the World Bank and Rashi Gupta, founder of Vision Mechatronics, have also played significant roles in integrating women into the renewable energy sector by advocating for inclusivity and equity to counter the underrepresentation of women in the field. Women have also been vital contributors to the renewable energy transition through education, research, and entrepreneurship, all while challenging traditional gender roles that have historically excluded them from the energy sector.
