Gender Equity in India’s Clean Energy Transition

This blog has been co-authored by Dhilsha Jubair and Charu Lata of NRDC India

On this International Women’s Day, the role of women in advancing the clean energy transition in India is taking center stage. Women are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, but can bring unique insights and invaluable perspectives that are crucial for building resilience to the multipronged challenge of climate change. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in association with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is organizing an event, Women in Renewable Energy: Inspiring Gender Inclusion Through Skill Development and Targeted Policies for Green Jobs. This is the fourth convening under MNRE’s Women in Renewable Energy initiative and will bring together women leaders and stakeholders from across the government, grassroots organizations, industries, research think tanks, technology-use enablers, and academic institutions. The dialogue aims to bridge policy gaps and provide recommendations for inclusive green employment, with a particular focus on skill development and amplifying the involvement of women in the renewable energy (RE) sector. 

The RE sector offers a variety of opportunities for women to become instrumental forces in addressing issues in the sector not merely as observers but as active participants, managers, and leaders. Economic empowerment of women through use of renewable energy interventions can play a pivotal role in fostering financial independence and shaping their decision-making agency within households, challenging entrenched gender norms. As the industry progresses, women have an opportunity to delve into diverse roles along the value chain, including manufacturing, installation, repair, and maintenance, as well as potential leadership positions, offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to energy challenges. It is crucial to acknowledge the current contribution of women to this sector, while attempting to uncover their untapped potential for the future. Active engagement of women in the sector not only empowers them financially but fosters enhanced community well-being through clean energy access and greater entrepreneurial opportunities within the sector. 

Women can play a vital role in RE solutions, however their participation is frequently hindered by gender-specific barriers and obstacles such as limited access to finance, insufficient knowledge and skills, lack of gender-sensitive policies, inequity in ownership of assets and socio-cultural restrictions. Recent studies emphasize the broader societal benefits of including women in the sector, such as elevating economic productivity and community well-being. Our upcoming report on green jobs created in the renewable industry will address these gaps to highlight the participation and role of women in the sector and how it can be strengthened through various policy measures. Preliminary findings, which will be presented at the workshop, highlights that there is a potential to include more women in both leadership and senior management roles in the sector. 

The Government of India has recently announced new initiatives to provide a significant opportunity for women to actively engage and participate in India’s clean energy transition. The new rooftop solar scheme, “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana”, with an investment exceeding Rs. 75,000 crores (USD 9 billion) is set to be implemented in 10 million households across India. It aims to provide participating households up to 300 units of free electricity per month, potentially leading to annual savings of at least Rs. 15000, in turn providing an opportunity for women to directly manage, operate and maintain these solar installations. More such initiatives are needed to create equitable opportunities for women in the RE sector, so that they are not merely consumers, but also producers and managers of clean energy capable of upskilling and improving their livelihoods.

Please join us this Friday, March 8 at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, New Delhi for a conversation on bringing women to the forefront of India’s clean energy transition and to hear from leaders and stakeholders across the renewable energy value chain. The event will also be livestreamed on MNRE’s YouTube channel.

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