“It’s helpful to have contact with students or STEM professionals and for girls to feel like they can do any profession.”

Ursula Perez Ramirez, Head of Data Science at Ampere Energy

Gender inequality in the energy sector continues to be a problem in a professional environment that is still heavily masculinized. To address this, we brought together women who work at leading companies in the industry. In this choral interview, the protagonists explain to us what their roles are in their work, the initiatives needed to promote greater inclusivity and gender equality, the impact of greater diversity on innovation and business performance, and strategies to motivate more young women to become interested in STEM careers. Their testimonies provide insight into the challenges and opportunities the energy industry faces on its path to greater gender equality. In this case, we spoke with Ursula Perez Ramirez, Head of Data Science at Ampere Energy.

Briefly describe your work in the energy sector and the type of projects/services in your company that you work on on a daily basis.

Ampere Energy is a company that offers complete turnkey smart storage solutions for homes, SMEs, the electric vehicle and industrial sectors, and energy communities. Based in Valencia, Ampere Energy is present in international markets in Europe such as Portugal, Italy, the UK and Ireland, as well as in Latin America.

I have a PhD in Electronic Engineering. After dedicating myself to research and teaching, my passion for data science focused on renewable energy brought me to Ampere Energy. In 2019, I joined the company as Head of Data Science. Our solutions are powered by artificial intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms, big data analytics, optimization and control tools to manage and store 100% of the energy produced by photovoltaic systems.

According to AEMENER, in 2022 women made up 32.9% of the workforce in the Spanish energy sector. What initiatives could be implemented to promote greater inclusion and gender equality in this sector?

I can think of many, but we can start by developing recruitment processes that promote gender diversity in companies in this sector. It is also important to establish criteria that guarantee equal access to career advancement opportunities. Of course, it is also important to promote equal pay and flexible working hours with flexible hours and remote work that allow for work and family responsibilities, as well as creating an environment where all employees feel valued and included. It is also very important to have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Creating a more inclusive and fair work environment benefits not only employees, but also the company and the sector.

How can greater gender diversity impact innovation, decision making, and overall company performance?

Women can make a big contribution to energy innovation and to key decision-making in a sector like renewable energy, which is at a critical moment. Gender diversity in any area of ​​business and innovation opens up a wide range of perspectives that can undoubtedly lead to more creative, disruptive and innovative solutions.

Diversity encourages reflection and critical analysis, which reduces the risk of making wrong and impulsive decisions. Therefore, companies increasingly need to demonstrate gender diversity to move in the right direction.

In the student population, women’s representation in STEM fields remains relatively low. What strategies could energy companies implement to encourage more young women to become interested in and pursue these subjects?

In STEM professions – those involving science, technology, engineering or mathematics – the percentage of women is very low.

I certainly think that the key to closing this gender gap is education from a very young age. I believe that concepts need to be explained in a practical way, showing their application in everyday life and allowing them to choose academic project topics according to their motivation and curiosity. It is also very helpful to have contact with students or professionals in STEM and for girls to naturally feel that they can do any profession.

As energy companies, we can participate in training programs in schools and colleges that excite girls and teenagers about STEM careers through educational seminars, webinars, information campaigns, success stories and visits to our companies. This way, they can get an idea of ​​the wide range of professional work that is done in STEM and see that there are women working in this field and that it is a very good working environment.