Women in Energy

The USAID-NREL Partnership is cultivating a highly skilled and robust energy workforce to ensure prosperous, resilient, and secure energy systems globally.

Person wearing hard hat, holding clipboard, looking at control panels.

Together, USAID and NREL are expanding access to technical coursework, enhancing on-the-job training, and strengthening networking opportunities to promote professional growth and foster economic security and career advancement for both women and men.

Women in Power System Transformation Consortium

The Women in Power System Transformation initiative (Women in PST), established by the USAID-NREL Partnership and the Global Power System Transformation (G-PST) Consortium, enhances advanced technical expertise through internships, cutting-edge teaching materials, and leadership and professional development training to strengthen change management skills. These efforts equip participants to secure competitive, high-demand roles in the power sector, supporting economic security and career advancement.

[Through Women in PST], I was introduced to grid-forming technologies during my summer at NREL, and now it happens to be the core of my Ph.D. work. Women in PST helped me find what I was passionate about. My mentor introduced me to dozens of professionals doing cutting-edge research in the field. Interactions with these inspiring individuals helped me get to the place where I am now."

—2022 Women in PST NREL intern

Women in PST activities include:

  • Technical Curriculum Development: Development of cutting-edge technical training materials that equip individuals with the advanced skills necessary to integrate modern energy systems and inverter-based resources into the power grid.
  • On-the-Job Training: Provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in collaboration with U.S. technical institutions to enhance participants' abilities to manage and operate an advanced power grid.
  • Leadership Training: Cultivate leadership abilities by focusing on merit-based training that equips participants with the skills to drive innovation and lead teams in the modernization of the power sector.
  • Professional Networks: Build and sustain peer-learning networks that connect power sector professionals, fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for career growth and advancement.
  • Change Management Training: Design pathways that create well-paying jobs and foster economic growth for both women and men in the power sector.

Further information can also be found on the G-PST website: Women in Power System Transformation.

Resources

Women in Power System Transformation Course Materials

Women in Power System Transformation, Fact Sheet (2022)

Joint Workforce Development Initiative To Advance Leadership Opportunities for Women in Power System Operations, NREL New Story (2022)

Contact

Erin Johnson

[email protected]
303-630-5959

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Last Updated Feb. 3, 2025