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Woman technician with hand on solar photovoltaic panels.

The Gender and Energy Nexus: A call for inclusion in T&T’s green hydrogen industry

May 3, 2023 by Kyana Bowen - Luz Caballero - Irati Jimenez - Augusto Cesar Bonzi Teixeira Leave a Comment


Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has made significant strides towards renewable energy and low carbon solutions. By embarking on the first utility scale renewable power generation facility, launching ‘The Roadmap for a Green Hydrogen Economy’, as well as commencing the Solar Park Project at the Piarco International Airport, the country has confirmed its commitment towards reducing its carbon emissions and contributing to the sustainable development of its energy sector.

Additionally, during the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference in January 2023, the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon.  Dr. Keith Rowley, mentioned the viability of producing green hydrogen in the country with the deployment of renewable energy projects.

Apart from the benefits it can bring to the country in terms of renewable energy, the development of a green hydrogen economy can also be an opportunity to promote gender equality. Understanding the energy and gender nexus as it relates to ensuring that there is equal representation from all groups of society throughout the decision-making and service delivery process is critical to ensure that renewable energy projects do not perpetuate gender inequalities. New investments into renewable energy projects foster opportunities for employment creation, which is an important aspect to be explored with policy impacts worldwide; it is expected that the energy sector will create 122 million jobs by 2050, including 43 million in renewables alone.

Women participation in renewable energy jobs at the global level, is much higher than in oil and gas jobs. For example, according to IRENA, women represent 40% of the jobs in solar PV, while in the traditional oil and gas sector this participation is only 22%. These statistics indicate renewable energy has the potential to be an equal employer, but more work is still needed to increase the participation of women across all energy sectors.

Mainstreaming gender into T&T’s nascent green hydrogen industry

According to the Central Statistical Office of Trinidad and Tobago, women account for only 27% of employment in the electricity sector. Women’s participation in the energy sector’s workforce is perceived as challenging given the limited access to information or low participation of women in STEM programs, favoring men which may hinder women entering the work force in the energy value chain.

Current research suggests that diverse teams increase profitability and make better decisions, and a higher percentage of women on company boards brings higher returns on equity and investment. The ongoing transformation of the sector, in terms of generation and industry (i.e. digitalization, market reforms, or renewables) calls for a change in the business model, including updating the human resources model to attract more women. According to Loop and DeNicola, women serve as change agents as they are more likely to be sensitive to social issues, which by extension can lead to transformation in the workplace and service delivery.

T&T has documented progress in gender mainstreaming activities given the formation of a Women in Energy Network, and there have also been instances where other key women groups bring awareness to the importance of sustainable energy. Private sector companies, such as Shell T&T, have also adopted an inclusive approach in their global operations. Another example of promoting gender parity in business in T&T is the AMCHAM T&T-IDB partnership on the Women in Leadership Mentorship Programme that inspires women to create transformational legacies.

Having this in mind, sustainable renewable energy initiatives must start with adequate gender and sex disaggregated data, as it relates to levels of employment and representation across different positions. Strengthening capacities of key institutions to mainstream gender activities is an integral part of gender responsive approaches in designing projects and operations within the energy and power generation sector in T&T.

This blog may have encouraged you to identify additional strategies for gender equality in the energy and power generation sector that would be suitable for the twin-island state. We welcome you to share your thoughts: How can we improve gender equality in the energy and power sectors in T&T?


Filed Under: Caribbean, energy, gender, Gender & Diversity, Trinidad and Tobago, women Tagged With: energy, gender, gender policy, Trinidad and Tobago

Kyana Bowen

Kyana Bowen was assigned to the IDB Trinidad and Tobago Country Office on 1st December 2022 as a Gender Consultant. Prior to this assignment, Kyana was a Programme Officer at the UN Women Multi Country Office – Caribbean where she was project manager for the Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate, and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER) Project, which was implemented across nine Caribbean countries. Kyana’s professional experience also includes gender-responsive humanitarian action, gender sensitive policy, and planning development for vulnerable/marginalized groups in disaster situations in the public sectors of Turks and Caicos Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. She holds a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, as well as an undergraduate degree in Social Work.

Luz Caballero

Luz Caballero es consultora de género en INE/ENE. Siempre transversalizando género y temas sociales, de 2011-2014 estuvo a cargo de los sectores de INE en el BID como consultor de la división de Género, Diversidad e Inclusión (GDI).  Ha trabajado previamente en el Banco Mundial en temas de transporte para África y América Latina y el Caribe, así como en energía para ESMAP, asimismo ha realizado consultorías de electromovilidad para la Agencia Francesa de Desarrollo y CEPAL. Luz comenzó su carrera profesional como economista en obras de construcción de infraestructuras en España, Etiopía y Gabón y residió recientemente en Senegal realizando principalmente tareas relacionadas con la economía del cuidado. Tiene una maestría en economía, una diplomatura en ciencias empresariales por la Universidad de Valladolid, España y está certificada como coach ejecutiva. // Luz Caballero is a gender consultant in the IDB Energy Division. Always integrating gender and social issues, from 2011 – 2014 she worked in the IDB’s Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) division, covering the Infrastructure Sector. Previously, she worked at the World Bank on transport issues in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and energy issues with ESMAP. She was also an electromobility consultant for the French Development Agency (AFD) and ECLAC. Luz began her career as an infrastructure economist in Spain, Ethiopia and Gabon, and recently resided in Senegal working mainly on projects related to the care economy. She has a Master’s in Economics, a degree in Business Studies from the University of Valladolid, Spain and is a certified executive coach.

Irati Jimenez

Irati Jimenez es Analista de Energía de la División de Energía del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Se especializa en energía renovables y eficiencia energética con énfasis en la resiliencia climática y la transición justa. Antes de incorporarse al BID, trabajó en el Banco Mundial como Especialista en Energía, realizando proyectos de energías verdes, sostenibles y accesibles, así como la descarbonización del sector destacando su trabajo en la región de América Latina y el Caribe y África. Es licenciada en ingeniería civil por la Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), y tiene una maestría en Negocios por la UPV/EHU y una maestría en Energía Renovable y Sostenibilidad Energética con Matrícula de Honor por la Universidad de Barcelona.// Irati Jimenez is an Energy Analyst in the Energy Division of the Inter-American Development Bank.  She specializes in renewable energy and energy efficiency with an emphasis on climate resilience and just transition. Prior to joining the IDB, she worked at the World Bank as an Energy Specialist, carrying out green, sustainable and affordable energy projects. She also worked on decarbonization of the energy sector, drawing on her experience in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), a Master's degree in Business from the UPV/EHU and a Master's degree in Renewable Energy and Energy Sustainability with Honors from the University of Barcelona.

Augusto Cesar Bonzi Teixeira

Augusto Cesar Bonzi Teixeira is a energy specialist of the Energy Division of the IDB. He has a M.Sc. in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University, as well as additional education and training from London Business School, Harvard University and Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania. Augusto Bonzi has more than 20 years’ international experience in the energy and electricity sectors, having worked in multilateral and national organizations, and the private sector. At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Mr. Bonzi focuses on the Caribbean region, supporting countries develop projects in renewable energy, infrastructure development, decarbonization activities, and regional integration. Mr. Bonzi also has experience in the modernization of the institutional and regulatory frameworks in the energy sector, as well as coordinates the activities of the team related to public utilities in the electricity sector.

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