Pressrelease
2024/09/12

Vätgas Sverige is granted SEK 1.2 million from the Equality Authority

Promoting gender equality in the hydrogen industry

Vätgas Sweden, the leading national trade association for renewable hydrogen, is proud to announce that it has received a grant of SEK 1.2 million to promote gender equality within the growing hydrogen industry. The initiative is in line with the government’s goals for gender equality and aims to create significant changes in a traditionally male-dominated sector. PowerCell Group, Siemens Energy, Vattenfall AB and Lhyfe Sweden are partners in the project.

“The project is highly innovative and has very good conditions to contribute knowledge of value to the development of gender equality work with its research connection”.

The Equality Authority

Fair distribution of power and influence

The project’s main goal is to ensure a fair distribution of power and influence, by increasing women’s representation in the hydrogen industry. As a central part of the green energy sector, the hydrogen industry is facing rapid growth and innovation. By focusing on this new and expanding area, Vätgas Sweden aims to challenge traditional gender roles and inspire a more diversified workforce.

Increased female representation

The project will work for increased equality in several central areas:

• Increased female representation in decision-making roles in the hydrogen industry.
• Increased interest and increased proportion of women in educational programs related to hydrogen and green energy.
• Improved pay equality between men and women in the sector.
• A sustainable structure to promote gender equality, applicable to other technology and energy sectors.

Long-term vision

By integrating gender equality from the start, the hydrogen industry can serve as a model for other emerging sectors. The project aims not only to balance gender representation, but also to increase the industry’s overall innovation and productivity through diverse perspectives and talents.

Hydrogen is part of the green transition in several traditionally male-dominated industries, such as energy, transport and the mining industry. Since hydrogen is changing many industries now, we look forward with joy to the opportunity to change gender power systems and outdated views about who is technically interested and what technical competence looks like, says Anna Grzelec, project manager at Vätgas Sweden.

Vätgas Sweden’s gender equality work

Vätgas Sweden is committed to promoting an inclusive and fair environment where women and men have equal opportunities to develop and contribute to the green transition. This project represents a critical step towards achieving these goals and setting a standard for future initiatives in the energy sector.

Dr. Anna Grzelec, environmental analysis and innovation development, and Louise Weinreder, senior project economist from Vätgas Sweden are contact persons for the equality project.

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