Solar PV Takes the Lead in Renewables When it Comes to Employing Women

A report put forth by IRENA states that the solar PV industry boasts of the highest share of full-time women employees in the renewable energy sector. The share stood at 40% last year.

The solar PV industry is the biggest employer of women in renewables both with reference to global number of employees as well as gender balance. Last year, the solar PV industry had 4.3 million employees, which is one-third of renewable energy jobs worldwide. Of this, women take up a share of 40 per cent. This statistics is nearly twice the share of women who are employed in the wind industry at 21% as well as the oil and gas sector with 22% women employees. In all the renewable sectors, the average percentage of women is 32%, thus, the solar PV industry has the highest share of women employees.

The report, entitled, ‘Solar PV: A Gender Perspective’,  says that in the solar PV industry, women fare best in manufacturing- making up as much as 47% of the workforce. Service providers and developers comes next with 39% and 37%, respectively. Solar PV installation witnesses the least percentage of women with hardly 12% of the workforce in the sector.

“A just and inclusive energy transition is not only about energy access. It is about making sure everyone is included and benefits from the process,” Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, said. “The findings of our new report are promising and confirm renewable energy’s great potential as an equal employer, but they also signal the need to step up our efforts to pave the way for more women to lead the energy transition and shape our shared future.”

The report was discussed at the 8^th World Conference on PV Energy Conversion in Milan, Italy and is an attempt to shed light on the need for equal opportunities for women in STEM. The report also highlights that women need to takes up more leadership roles and roles that require them to do the decision making- this holds equally true for the solar PV industry, where women presently are in 30% of managerial jobs. However, they make up hardly 13% of senior management roles.

Notably, decentralised solar PV seems to have more significant employment opportunities for women.  In non-technical roles, 35% women hold portfolios in marketing, sales, distribution, and product assembly and installation.