ISSN 2736-1578
African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 211–224
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001360
Article Type: Research Article
Title: Women in Renewable Energy Engineering: Gendered Barriers and Mentorship Ecosystems
Names of Author: Ngozi Okafor-Nwosu¹, Min-Seo Park², & Laura Lindqvist³
Author's Affiliation: ¹Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; ²Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea; ³Department of Sustainable Development, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
The global transition toward clean energy infrastructure promises millions of new technical and engineering jobs over the coming decades, yet women remain severely underrepresented in grid engineering, wind turbine installation, and energy systems design. Masculine workplace cultures, lack of female field mentors, inadequate personal protective equipment tailored to female bodies, and unsafe remote field site conditions deter female engineering graduates from remaining in the sector. This paper examines the structural and cultural factors shaping female engineers’ retention in renewable energy firms across Nigeria, South Korea, and Sweden. Grounded in gendered organization theory and feminist science studies, the study draws on career-trajectory interviews with 48 female energy engineers. We argue that achieving a just energy transition requires gender-audited field safety standards, structured technical sponsorship, and equitable leadership pipelines.
Keywords: Renewable energy engineering, women in engineering, gendered organization theory, just energy transition, workplace culture, mentorship, Nigeria, South Korea
Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 04, 2026; Revised: November 02, 2026; Accepted: November 06, 2026; Published: November 16, 2026.
Citation: Okafor-Nwosu, N., Park, M.-S., & Lindqvist, L. (2026). Women in Renewable Energy Engineering: Gendered Barriers and Mentorship Ecosystems. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(11), 211–224. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001360