Empowering Women In India's Energy Transition: Bridging The Gender Gap Through Policy And Technology - IMPRI Impact And Policy Research Institute

Maya P

Introduction

India’s energy sector has witnessed rapid growth, driven by ambitious policies aimed at sustainability, energy security, and economic development. However, achieving a just energy transition requires addressing gender disparities in energy access, workforce participation, and benefits distribution. While India has made significant strides in renewable energy expansion and electrification, the gendered impact of these transitions remains an area requiring greater focus.

Women, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, face unique challenges related to energy poverty, limited decision-making power, and unequal access to economic opportunities. On the supply side, the coal industry has historically been male-dominated, reinforcing gender disparities in employment, wages, and leadership roles. Despite their crucial contributions—both formal and informal—women’s roles in energy-dependent economies often go unrecognized. A gender-sensitive approach must acknowledge women’s participation in the labor force, ensure their representation in transition planning, and promote gender-inclusive economic diversification.

Women and Energy Access: Challenges and Opportunities

Women in India, especially in rural areas, are primary energy users within households but remain excluded from decision-making in energy governance. Traditional reliance on biomass for cooking exposes them to severe health risks due to indoor air pollution. Policies such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) have improved access to LPG, yet affordability and cultural barriers still hinder universal adoption (Government of India, 2022).

The Saubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) has significantly increased household electrification, enhancing productivity, education for girls, and safety for women. However, intermittent power supply, unaffordable electricity tariffs, and a lack of gender-specific initiatives remain drawbacks (Smart Power India, 2023). Similarly, the National Solar Mission & Renewable Energy Policies have empowered women entrepreneurs by expanding income opportunities through decentralized solar systems, mechanizing labor-intensive tasks like sewing and dairy farming, and improving rural energy access (IEA, 2023). Women are increasingly present in rooftop solar initiatives, with an 11% representation—still far from ideal, but a sign that decentralized, citizen-owned energy solutions can be more inclusive than conventional power structures (ADB, 2022).

Gender Barriers in Renewable Energy Employment and Financing

Like most women-led businesses, renewable energy enterprises depend on microloans, requiring policy backing and cultural integration for meaningful, systemic change. Limited financing options for women entrepreneurs, gender bias in the renewable energy workforce, and inadequate training programs remain persistent challenges (USAID, 2022). The crucial lesson is that technology alone cannot resolve gender inequities—formal political and legal support is essential to help women overcome deep-seated societal constraints. Many energy policies remain gender-neutral rather than gender-responsive, creating policy blind spots (UN Women, 2023).

The path to sustainability is also the path to inclusivity and ensuring that women are central to energy transitions will determine how just and effective these efforts truly are. The Indian government has taken steps to integrate gender considerations into renewable energy policies by honoring female leaders, organizing dedicated conferences, and establishing committees for gender-responsive policymaking (MNRE, 2022).

Women as Catalysts in India’s Renewable Energy Transition

Several initiatives highlight women as key agents in India’s clean energy shift. The Solar Saheli Initiative has trained rural women as solar entrepreneurs, enabling them to sell and maintain solar-powered products, fostering economic independence (Rockefeller Foundation, 2021). Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are encouraged to engage in renewable energy businesses, such as solar lantern sales and microgrid management, improving both income generation and clean energy adoption (wPOWER India, 2022).

Programs focusing on women farmers have introduced solar-powered irrigation systems, reducing reliance on conventional energy while improving agricultural productivity (EESL, 2022). Mission Shakti integrates gender empowerment with renewable energy by deploying solar-powered street lighting and rural electrification to enhance women’s safety and mobility (IEA, 2023).

Additionally, wPOWER (Partnership on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Renewables), supported by USAID, has empowered over 1,000 grassroots women as clean energy entrepreneurs. These women—known as Sakhis—have helped over 100,000 low-income households transition from conventional energy sources to clean energy solutions such as solar lamps and clean fuel cookstoves, improving the lives of millions in rural India (wPOWER India, 2022).

The Role of Digital Innovations in Gender-Inclusive Energy Policies

Advancements in digital technology play a crucial role in promoting gender-inclusive energy policies by enhancing accessibility, training, and participation. Smart meters and IoT-based energy management systems empower women by providing real-time monitoring and control over household energy consumption (EESL, 2022). Blockchain-based peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading platforms enable women-led households to become energy producers and traders, fostering financial independence (Smart Power India, 2023).

Digital financing and mobile payment solutions have helped women overcome traditional financial barriers to securing funding for clean energy projects. E-learning platforms support skill development in solar installation, maintenance, and entrepreneurship, equipping women with expertise in renewable energy technologies (ADB, 2022). Additionally, AI-powered policy analytics can assess the gender impact of energy policies, ensuring data-driven and inclusive decision-making (UN Women, 2023).

Bridging the Digital Divide for Women in Energy

Despite these advancements, the digital divide remains a significant barrier. Women in rural areas have lower access to smartphones, internet connectivity, and digital literacy programs, limiting their participation in digital energy platforms. Most blockchain-based trading systems and smart grid technologies are designed without considering gender-specific needs, further restricting women’s roles in decision-making (IEA, 2023).

Financial constraints also hinder women from investing in digital energy solutions, as they often lack access to credit or digital financing tools. Additionally, bias in AI-driven energy management systems may reinforce existing inequalities by failing to account for gendered energy consumption patterns (Smart Power India, 2023). Addressing these barriers requires targeted policies that enhance digital inclusion, provide gender-responsive training, and ensure equitable participation in the evolving energy landscape.

Conclusion

India’s energy transition presents an opportunity to create a more equitable and inclusive future. However, gender disparities in energy access, workforce participation, and decision-making continue to hinder progress. Bridging this gap requires strong policy interventions, targeted financial support, and digital innovations that empower women to participate meaningfully in the renewable energy sector.

By ensuring gender-responsive policies, fostering women’s entrepreneurship, and leveraging emerging technologies, India can build a truly inclusive energy transition—one that not only advances sustainability but also uplifts the lives of millions of women across the country.

References

Asian Development Bank (ADB). (2022). Women and the Energy Transition: Strategies for Inclusive Growth.
EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited). (2022). Smart Energy Solutions and Gender Inclusion in India’s Energy Sector.
Government of India. (2022). Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Annual Report. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2023). Gender and Energy: Policies for a Just Transition.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). (2022). Women in Renewable Energy: Policies and Initiatives.
Rockefeller Foundation. (2021). Solar Saheli: Women as Clean Energy Entrepreneurs in India.
Smart Power India. (2023). Digital Solutions for Inclusive Energy Access.
UN Women. (2023). The Gendered Impact of Energy Transitions: Policy Recommendations for India.
USAID. (2022). Women’s Participation in Renewable Energy: Global Lessons and Best Practices.
wPOWER India. (2022). Women-Led Renewable Energy Enterprises in India: Case Studies and Impact Assessment.

About the contributor: Maya P. is a fellow of Young Women Leaders in Public Policy 2.0 and a Doctoral Student at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.