Green Hydrogen: Gender Equality in the Energy Transition

What would an energy industry in which all people have equal opportunities look like? Beyond its role in global decarbonization, green hydrogen could be the key to building a more inclusive and equitable sector. What if every job generated in this industry also contributed to gender equality?

The transition to green hydrogen is an opportunity to break down barriers in a sector historically dominated by men. Today, women represent about 20% of the energy workforce, concentrated in administrative roles. Chile, for example, shows a clear gap in green talent: for every 100 men with these skills, there are only 59 women. In order to fully take advantage of this energy transition, inclusion measures are required to not only close these gaps, but to build a diverse and competitive environment from the ground up.

Gender Equality: Beyond Numbers

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), CORFO and ChileMujeres developed a study that provides tools to monitor and promote gender inclusion in the green hydrogen sector. This comparative analysis of regulations and practices was the basis for a gender evaluation protocol that CORFO will implement in projects seeking funding under the H2V Financial Program. This protocol will not only strengthen equity in the energy sector, but also establishes a framework for future evaluations in male-dominated industries.

The study identifies 14 key dimensions for evaluating gender plans and actions in the sector, including organizational commitment, female participation, recruitment, professional development, remuneration, training, job adaptability, parental co-responsibility, labor and sexual harassment, health, safety and infrastructure, among others.

These dimensions underscore that gender equality goes beyond increasing the number of women; it involves analyzing their effective participation and real opportunities for development. Gender-disaggregated data are essential to identify barriers and design evidence-based policies that ensure true and sustainable inclusion.

An inclusive and competitive energy future in Chile

Incorporating gender equality in the green hydrogen sector is a strategy that strengthens the sector, enhances creativity and promotes organizational resilience. Emerging sectors such as this one have the potential to set new standards of equity and diversity. The gender mainstreaming strategy of Chile's H2V Action Plan is an example of how to integrate inclusion from the start. This strategy offers a replicable model of inclusion to adapt to other contexts based on four principles: sustainable labor trajectories, female leadership, reduction of training gaps, and a focus on safety and gender in affected communities.

Gender equality is a cornerstone in the transition to a cleaner and fairer energy future. Sectors such as green hydrogen have the opportunity and responsibility to lead this change, laying the foundation for an inclusive, equitable and prosperous future for all people.