REScoop.eu: Gold Solar Diversity Champion 2023

This recognition means a great deal to REScoop.eu. Year after year, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive work environment, not only for ourselves, but also to encourage our growing network of over 2,000 energy communities across Europe to do the same in their communities. These communities collectively represent 1.5 million EU citizens engaged in the energy transition. The award validates our efforts and motivates us to continue advocating for energy democracy and energy justice. Gender justice and inclusion go hand-in-hand with democracy; you cannot achieve one without the other. 

In 2020, REScoop.eu signed the Charter of Commitment on equality between women and men in cooperatives by Cooperatives Europe. This charter underscores the critical role cooperatives play in providing decent employment and reducing inequalities, emphasising gender equality as a core value. 

Internally, we created a Gender Ambition Statement with some of our members, inviting all REScoop.eu members to promote the meaningful participation of people of all genders on equal terms. Our statutes require the appointment of two representatives of different genders for each cooperative member on the Board, and the Presidency and Vice-Presidency roles are shared between individuals of different genders. 

In 2021, we established the Gender Power Working Group to advance our commitment to gender equality. This group maps the needs and challenges of energy cooperatives, shares best practices, and develops strategies to promote gender diversity. It also amplifies the voices and needs of women and people of all genders, including those from diverse socio-economic, socio-cultural, religious backgrounds in the energy sector, all while increasing the awareness of gender-related inequalities and eradicating discriminatory practices. To illustrate our focus on these matters more clearly, the name of this working group has recently changed to ‘Gender Power and Inclusion.’ REScoop.eu actively shares the experiences of the working group with members and other stakeholders, and is part of the Equality platform for the energy sector, established by the European Commission. 

Moreover, in 2023, we published an inclusivity guide for energy communities offering tools and tips to increase inclusivity within energy communities. While some actions for gender equality were already implemented, in 2023, REScoop.eu decided to take further steps and develop a gender equality plan, officially approved in 2024, This plan outlines a range of measures to promote gender justice and inclusion across various topics.  

We are committed to closely monitoring the actions outlined in our gender equality plan. These actions include inclusive recruitment, non-gender biased evaluations, gender training modules, gender equality in statutes, gender-balanced boards, and membership diversity. As a learning network, we will continue the conversation about diversity and inclusion with our members through the Gender Power and Inclusion Working Group, workshops, and presentations. 

Beyond gender justice, energy poverty and socio-economic inclusivity are high on our agenda. We have developed numerous conversations and learnings around this topic both at both EU and national levels. Key achievements include the publication of a Report on Energy Communities and Energy Poverty with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and the recognition of the role of energy communities in the Commission’s Energy Poverty Recommendation and Staff Working Document. These documents feature inspiring practices and concrete strategies for energy poverty alleviation from our members. We believe that the only way to achieve energy democracy is to make sure that everyone can take part in the energy transition. Therefore, as a network, we have to ask ourselves continuously: am I reaching everyone in my community? Is my energy community welcoming for all? We see inclusivity and fair representation as a prerequisite for a successful transition to 100% renewable energy. 

Diversity in the solar energy sector is not only a matter of justice and human rights but also key to unlocking the full potential of renewable energy. We believe that all renewable energy sectors should embrace diversity and inclusivity, recognising that collective strength is essential to achieving a 100% renewable and democratic energy transition for all. Celebrating good practices helps to inspire and motivate other stakeholders. We see what is already happening, learn what works (and what doesn’t), and support each other to grow and expand our impact in the transition to a sustainable and fair world. 

Awards like the Solar Diversity Champion Award shine a spotlight on best practices, encouraging other organisations to adopt similar approaches. They align with our goal of facilitating international exchanges and collaboration by showcasing successful models, and fostering a sense of shared purpose amongst energy cooperatives across Europe. 

We approach our way of promoting diversity and gender equality with humility, recognising that what we employ might not be applicable for everyone. We don't claim to be experts in gender and inclusion; instead, we aim to foster a collaborative learning environment within our network. 

We encourage our members to share their experiences and actions, whether they succeed or not. We believe that failure is only a setback if we fail to learn from it. Reflecting on our failures in promoting diversity in the sector is also important: we need to more openly share what has gone wrong, and learn from each other's mistakes. Key elements we do consider important include committing to formal gender equality policies, creating platforms for exchange, and fostering an inclusive culture and learning mindset. 

 

By leading by example, we hope to inspire other energy cooperatives to adopt similar measures, collectively working towards a more equitable energy sector.