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Energy

Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership

A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reveals that women make up 32% of full-time employees in the renewables sector, a figure that has remained unchanged since the agency’s first gender analysis in 2019.

Although the proportion is higher than in other energy industries, the findings show that meaningful progress towards gender equality in the sector has stalled.

The second edition of Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective offers IRENA’s most comprehensive assessment yet of women’s participation in the renewable energy workforce and the barriers they continue to face.

The report warns that without stronger action to improve representation, the global energy transition risks being neither fair nor sustainable, potentially leading to labour shortages and limited diversity in leadership and decision-making.

Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership, holding only 19% of such positions. They make up 45% of administrative roles but just 28% of jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Representation is lowest at 22% in technical trades such as installation, machinery operation, and electrical work, which require vocational or technical training.

Gender disparity

“Advancing gender equality in the renewable energy sector depends on robust data, targeted policy interventions and active collaboration of all stakeholders. Our analysis is the only of its kind to fill this knowledge gap. Unfortunately, despite performing better than in fossil fuel industries, little progress has been made. The sector still has a lot of work to do. To realise the energy transition’s full potential, women must be recognised as equal partners and leaders in shaping the renewables-based future,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera.

Systemic barriers continue to hinder women’s advancement at every career stage, from gender bias and cultural stereotypes to the challenge of balancing professional and caregiving responsibilities. Discriminatory practices and glass ceilings further limit their access to leadership roles.

In non-governmental organisations focused on off-grid and community-based projects, women represent around 35% of employees, suggesting significant potential for expanding their leadership and influence in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of universal energy access.

The study also identifies disparities between organisational types: women make up only 25% of the workforce in private enterprises compared with 48% in NGOs and 37% in government or non-commercial institutions.

The report calls for coordinated action across all levels. Governments should enforce non-discrimination laws, ensure equal pay, and integrate gender equality into climate and energy policies. Employers are urged to adopt flexible work arrangements, transparent recruitment, mentorship programmes, and safe workplaces. Educational institutions, trade unions, and civil society must also help dismantle stereotypes, expand opportunities, and promote accountability.

Thomas Loffler, senior vice president – ADIPEC, dmg events and Abdulmunim Al Kindy, chairman, ADIPEC 2025. (Image source: dmg events)

Global leaders will convene in Abu Dhabi for ADIPEC 2025 to shape the transformation of energy systems under the theme ‘Energy. Intelligence. Impact.’

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and hosted by ADNOC, ADIPEC 2025 will be held at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi from 3-6 November. Against the backdrop of surging artificial intelligence (AI) energy demands, new economic powerhouses and a global transformation of energy systems, the event will provide a forum to deliver the solutions that will power the future. Foremost international energy, tech and investment CEOs and government ministers from around the globe will be among the 1,800+ speakers leading discussions on buidling resilience, scaling innovation and unlocking the huge opportunity of the energy transformation.

Bringing together more than 205,000 attendees from 172 countries ADIPEC 2025 will span 17 halls – featuring 30 country pavilions, four specialised industry areas, and 2,250 exhibitors – creating a nexus for cross-sector collaboration.

Participating government ministers include His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, UAE; His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, United States of America; His Excellency Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Qatar; and His Excellency Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism, Austria.

ADIPEC Exhibition: showcasing Abu Dhabi's AI leadership

The exhibition will bring together the entire energy ecosystem – from producers, policymakers and technology pioneers to investors, innovators and industrial consumers. 

The expanded AI Zone will position Abu Dhabi as the epicentre of the global AI-energy nexus, with a live showcase of how AI is transforming energy systems, enabling smarter infrastructure, and driving sustainable progress at scale.

New for 2025 is the Low Carbon & Chemicals Expo, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s leadership in pioneering low-carbon innovation and showcasing breakthrough advances in hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, carbon capture, energy storage, chemicals and clean energy.

Abdulmunim Al Kindy, chairman, ADIPEC 2025, said, “Meeting the world’s growing demand for energy requires an intelligent and pragmatic approach that embraces all viable sources and technologies, to drive long-term socioeconomic growth. ADIPEC 2025 will convene the AI-energy nexus to unlock the solutions, partnerships and investments needed to build a sector that is resilient, inclusive and equipped for the next era of progress.

Enhanced conference programme

In 2025, ADIPEC will present an enhanced conference programme with two streams – the Strategic Conference and the Technical Conference – featuring more than 380 sessions. The Strategic Conference will bring together the world’s most influential leaders, policymakers and innovators across 10 programmes to address the sector’s most pressing challenges, foster meaningful dialogue and incentivise cross-sector collaboration. It will introduce five new focus areas – Emerging Economies, Natural Gas & LNG, Downstream & Chemical, Diversity, Leadership & Development, and AI & Digitalisation.

The Technical Conference, chaired by Haitham Al Jenaibi, SVP Gas and Growth in Upstream at ADNOC, remains the world’s largest of its kind. Organised under two programmes – the Technical Conference by SPE and the Downstream Technical Conference by ADIPEC – it will feature more than 1,100 experts.

Thomas Loffler, senior vice president – ADIPEC, dmg events, said, “ADIPEC 2025 is more than a gathering – it’s where ambition becomes action and ideas become measurable impact. In today’s complex world, progress depends on harnessing all technologies – from artificial intelligence to advanced low-carbon solutions – and uniting every part of the energy ecosystem. By bringing together diverse perspectives from across geographies and industries, ADIPEC will help shape a resilient, inclusive and high-growth future where energy security and sustainability advance together.”

Kent’s responsibilities include verifying engineering design compliance with international standards

Kent has been appointed by ACWA Power as Owner’s Engineer for the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, a major green hydrogen and ammonia export facility in Saudi Arabia.

The project, set to become one of the world’s largest, forms a key part of the Kingdom’s clean energy strategy under Vision 2030.

Located in Yanbu on the Red Sea, the hub will integrate the full green hydrogen value chain, including renewable power generation, desalination plants, ammonia production lines, and an export terminal.

Once operational, it will produce up to 400,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, converted into more than 2.2 million tonnes of green ammonia for global markets. With over 4 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity planned, the facility will be nearly double the size of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project.

In its role, Kent will act as ACWA Power’s technical representative during the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase, carried out through a Joint Venture between Técnicas Reunidas and Sinopec. The company will provide independent oversight to ensure the project is safe, efficient, and technically robust.

Kent’s responsibilities include verifying engineering design compliance with international standards, reviewing safety and constructability, managing technical interfaces across workstreams, and advising on risk and design optimisation. The team will also support ACWA Power in preparing for the transition to the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) phase.

Kent’s appointment strengthens its growing portfolio of energy transition projects in the Middle East and highlights its commitment to advancing decarbonised energy systems globally.

John Gilley, CEO at Kent said, “We are proud to be supporting ACWA Power on a project of such global significance. Our role as Owner’s Engineer allows us to bring together deep technical expertise and a long history of managing complex energy projects, helping to lay the foundations for safe, scalable and sustainable hydrogen infrastructure.”
 
Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power, said, “The Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub is a monumental step forward in realising Saudi Arabia’s green hydrogen ambitions and solidifies ACWA Power’s position as a first mover and global leader in this critical sector. This project highlights our commitment to innovation, scale, and delivering a sustainable and secure energy future. Our partnership with Kent will ensure the project benefits from world-class technical oversight as we progress towards final investment decision and construction.”

NEXTCHEM brings the expertise of a multinational engineering player in downstream energy. (Image source: NEXTCHEM)

NEXTCHEM (MAIRE), a leader in technological solutions for industrialising the energy transition, has officially opened its new regional office in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step in the company’s strategic expansion across the Middle East.

As part of the MAIRE Group, NEXTCHEM brings the expertise of a multinational engineering player in downstream energy services with strong Italian roots. The group operates in 50 countries, employs over 10,200 professionals, and has completed more than 1,500 projects worldwide.

MAIRE has maintained a presence in the UAE since the late 1990s through its engineering and construction unit, TECNIMONT, delivering key projects that support the region’s economic and social development. Currently, TECNIMONT and NEXTCHEM are both involved in ADNOC’s Hail and Ghasha onshore development, a major global initiative aimed at decarbonising the gas processing industry. The group also carries out strategic projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.

NEXTCHEM heads MAIRE’s Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) business unit and is now reinforcing its Middle East footprint with a portfolio of advanced technologies and innovative solutions. Its focus spans three core areas: Sustainable Fertilisers and Nitrogen-Based Fuels, Low-Carbon Energy Vectors, and Sustainable Materials and Circular Solutions, all designed to support the region’s decarbonisation goals.

Industrial innovation

The Abu Dhabi office opening brought together members of MAIRE’s Board of Directors, senior executives from NEXTCHEM, ADNOC officials, and other industry leaders. Attendees included H.E. Lorenzo Fanara, Italian Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Hazeem Al Suwaidi, CEO of BOROUGE Group, and Mr. Youssef Al Nowais, MAIRE’s long-term industrial partner and shareholder.

The new Abu Dhabi office positions NEXTCHEM to better collaborate with regional partners and clients, enabling faster deployment of low-carbon technologies and sustainable industrial solutions across the Gulf. The company’s move reflects the growing focus in the Middle East on sustainable energy development, innovative industrial technologies, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

NEXTCHEM’s expansion in the region highlights the company’s long-term commitment to driving industrial innovation and sustainability, leveraging both local expertise and global capabilities to support critical projects that align with the UAE’s energy and climate ambitions.

“The opening of NEXTCHEM’s regional offices underscores our long-term commitment to the UAE and the wider Middle East region,” said Mohammed Nafid, Middle East STS region vice president. “Building on two decades of trusted engineering know-how through TECNIMONT, we are now bringing NEXTCHEM’s technology portfolio to support the decarbonization objectives of our clients. Customers are looking for partners that can combine proven project delivery with innovative, competitive, economically viable technological solutions,” added Nafid, “Our Abu Dhabi base will allow us to work even more closely with stakeholders to reinforce the region’s global leadership in the energy transition —project by project.”

Grid automation is essential to operating and maintaining the modern grid. (Image source: Hitachi Energy)

Hitachi Energy has been recognised as the global market share leader in grid automation for electric power transmission and distribution utilities by ARC Advisory Group, a leading technology research and advisory firm.

The recognition is part of ARC’s “Grid Automation Global Market Study 2024-2029,” published in June 2025.

According to the report, Hitachi Energy ranks as the No. 1 provider of grid automation products and services worldwide. The company also leads in key software categories, including Grid Control & Management, Outage Management, and AI Applications, as well as hardware categories such as Wireless and Wired Networks, Measurement devices, and RTUs.

“Grid automation is essential to operating and maintaining the modern grid,” said Richard Rys, director of consulting at ARC Advisory and lead researcher for grid automation. “Our extensive market share analysis of suppliers in this highly competitive space shows Hitachi Energy at the top of the leaderboard. We believe this company’s deep-rooted heritage in energy, extensive domain expertise, the breadth and depth of their integrated solutions, and strong focus on digitalisation and AI/ML capabilities will continue to drive their leadership in the industry.”

The report highlights strong growth in grid automation software, hardware, and services, driven by a changing generation mix, new grid-storage assets, and emerging market structures such as virtual power plants and support for demand response. Growth is particularly notable in regions building new electric grids or upgrading existing systems following weather events or conflicts that disrupt electricity distribution.

Enhancing grid stability

“The grid automation market is at an inflection point, with rapid global electrification and the urgency of the energy transition placing unprecedented demands on the grid. The future of the power grid depends on accelerating digital innovation and new capabilities,” said Massimo Danieli, Managing Director, Business Unit Grid Automation at Hitachi Energy. “As the market leader, we’re proud to work closely with our customers and the industry to deliver the advanced solutions that modernise grid infrastructure, enhance resilience, and speed the transition to cleaner energy systems.”

Hitachi Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of grid automation solutions that help electric utilities transform traditional power grids into reliable, efficient, and resilient systems capable of meeting the challenges of the evolving energy landscape. Its technologies support planning, construction, real-time monitoring, control and protection, maintenance, and trading operations, enabling safer, more reliable, and sustainable grid performance.

ARC’s Grid Automation Global Market Study, published annually since 2021, combines current market analysis with a five-year forecast and detailed supplier market share analysis. The study focuses on transmission and distribution utilities serving commercial, industrial, and residential customers, examining the key hardware, software, and services that automate grids from central control centers to the edge of distribution networks.

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