Solar energy is revolutionising women’s empowerment by creating economic opportunities, improving health, and fostering environmental sustainability in marginalised communities. From increased financial inclusion to skill development, solar initiatives enable women to become leaders in the energy economy.
Relevance: GS 3 (Environment, Economy )
Practice Question: Examine the role of solar energy in promoting women’s empowerment, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in expanding solar access in developing regions.(250 words)
Solar as an Empowerment Tool for Women :
- Decentralisation of Energy: Solar energy’s localised production allows communities to generate power close to use, empowering individuals, especially women, by involving them directly in the energy economy.
- Economic Benefits: Women in regions like Gujarat’s Little Rann of Kutch have increased their incomes by 94% by switching from diesel to solar pumps, while also reducing CO₂ emissions by 1,15,000 metric tons annually.
Women-led Solar Initiatives:
- Barefoot College (India), Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh), Solar Sister (Africa): Train women as solar engineers, improving health, safety, and income in communities.
- Health Outcomes: We Care Solar’s portable solar units reduced perinatal deaths by 72% in Uganda.
Solar Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion
- Job Creation: The solar industry employs more women than any other energy sector, with 4.9 million jobs in 2022, 40% of which were held by women.
- Future Growth: India’s renewable targets are projected to create three million solar jobs by 2030, offering vast opportunities for women’s empowerment.
Challenges in Scaling Solar Access
- Geographical Disparity: Investment is focused in developed countries, leaving developing regions, especially Africa, underserved.
- Sectoral Imbalance: Large-scale solar farms receive most funding, while small-scale applications (e.g., solar pumps, cold storage) lack support.
- Manufacturing Monopoly: Concentration in two countries leads to supply chain risks and price hikes, exacerbated by global demand.
Solar Energy and Marginalised Communities
- Sustainable Development: Unlike coal, solar offers a sustainable economic boost for communities, aiding health and education while alleviating poverty.
- Community-Based Models: Self-help groups, farmer-producer organisations, and rural energy committees are crucial in planning and maintaining mini-grids for community-wide access.
- Environmental Impact: Localised solar projects reduce ecological degradation, foster climate resilience, and create local jobs.
Policy and Gender Inclusion for a Just Transition
- Gender-Focused Policies: National electrification policies need a gender lens to ensure women are not just beneficiaries but active change agents in the energy economy.
- Holistic Integration: Electrification policies should connect with agriculture, forestry, and rural development to remove systemic barriers affecting women, fostering a fairer and inclusive energy economy.
Sustainability and Solar Lifecycle Management
- Waste Management: Recycling and circularity for solar materials must be prioritised, with clear guidelines and collaboration among producers, government, and recyclers.
- Lifecycle Innovation: Mobile recycling plants and robust waste protocols are necessary to minimise environmental impact, enhancing the solar sector’s sustainability.
Conclusion :
Empowering women through solar energy can foster inclusive growth, making energy transition a pathway to equality and sustainability.
