What we do
What we do
The EU-funded project aims at scaling-up the involvement of women, as agents of change, in the Renewable Energy Sector (RES), particularly in Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC) solutions, to facilitate a gender-just and sustainable energy transition.
To tackle the different barriers and challenges, hindering women from entering the sector, the project has a multi-facetted approach, addressing the different stakeholders.
We develop case studies that show how women overcome barriers to the market launch of renewable energy technologies and thereby advance the spread of RHC in the target markets examined. In order to achieve greater participation of women, we strengthen awareness of gender-relevant aspects and gender-sensitive communication within the project team and among relevant stakeholders from business, politics and science through capacity building and information materials. In addition, specific measures to support women-led RHC projects and political recommendations to promote the RHC market are being developed, which are based on socially and gender-equitable framework conditions.
Focus areas
Although the EU is the global leader in the use of renewable energy, progress in these technologies has been lagging behind for years – especially in the area of renewable heating and cooling (RHC). Although we need all our strength to achieve our climate and energy goals, the existing potential is not being utilised. Women in particular are very active as agents of change in the environmental and climate movement and, according to 2018 OECD surveys, are “comparatively more sustainable consumers and more sensitive to environmental and health concerns”. Research shows that women tend to prioritise an energy-efficient lifestyle more than men. At the same time, however, they are underrepresented in the energy sector and on energy policy committees.
Countries
Greece, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Norway
Partners
Q-Plan International Advisors Pc (Q-Plan), Agenzia Per La Promozione Della Ricerca Europea (APRE), Civiesco Srl (CIVI), Steinbeis 2i Gmbh (S2i), Hochschule Für Technik Stuttgart (HFT), Eurec Eesv (EUREC), White Research Sprl (WR), Pedal Consulting Sro (Pedal), Energy Agency Of Plovdiv Association (EAP), European Green Cities Aps (EGC), European Centre For Women And Technology (ECWT)
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Donors
Our capacity building program
You want to improve gender equality in the renewable energy sector? You’re missing arguments or guidelines on how to implement it? Check out our W4RES tool!
We have developed a detailed program for gender mainstreaming the renewable heating and cooling (RHC) and renewable energies (RES) sector. This capacity building program will take you through twelve modules. Each modules can be used individually, depending on the needs of the workplaces and the gender mainstreaming objectives set. All toolkits and other annexes mentioned are available in the annexes of the W4RES capacity building program for women empowerment in RHC sector (training-of-trainer (ToT) version). A set of recommendations on how to use and implement this program is provided as a final part of this document.
The capacity building program has been built around two formats
First, a seminar program (mentioned above) with a regional focus in W4RES’ eight partner countries. Second, a series of webinars organised by WECF and ECWT. The seminars’ program has been built around a progressive capacity building program, starting with awareness-raising lectures on the nexus between gender and energy, followed by an introduction to practical tools and finally a demonstration of what can be achieved by applying the newly introduced tools.
Along the program, participants are invited to practice the tools of their choice
Furthermore, we asked energy experts from different backgrounds (energy community, energy consultant, research) to bring their expertise and experience to our program. In the following, participants are given the opportunity to practice the first steps of a Gender Action Plan for their sector. At the end of the seminar, participants receive a training package, ensuring the dissemination and the sustainability of the program.
This package contains a step-by-step toolkit on “How to build a gender responsive energy private sector”, providing guidelines and examples of implementation for each tool introduced and practiced during the seminar. The gender-responsive communication toolkit is a set of two-sided postcards, containing key message graphics on the front side and an explanative part on the backside.
Users are invited to keep this communication toolkit closely to apply gender-just communication in their daily work
In addition, a gender glossary, providing a range of gender terms and definitions to remove barriers and insecurity in gender vocabulary employment is given.
