This week, women in Solar+ Europe give a voice to Polina Vasilenko, founder and CEO of French Heliorec. She says that even after more than two decades in the energy sector, she is still confronted with bias and skepticism. “Sometimes people simply underestimate me because I am a woman. Other times they reject my work because it is unconventional; floating solar energy does not always fit in traditional views of energy infrastructure,” she says.
When people ask me why diversity, fairness and inclusion is important in solar and renewable energy, my answer is simple: because the energy transition is not only technical, it is also human. In each sector, gender diversity and inclusion are essential for innovation, fairness and progress. In clean energy, especially in rising fields such as floating solar energy, various teams design more resilient and inclusive solutions. They ensure that all stakeholders, including the most vulnerable, benefit from the transition.
Women are disproportionately affected by climate change. This reality includes leadership, not only a ‘fun to have’, but essential. If we want a cleaner, fairer future, we must actively absorb the voices of those who are most affected by the climate crisis.
I often imagine that a solar project is developed in a coastal town that flourishes every year. A technically strong team can deliver panels and infrastructure. But a really diverse, including a team goes deeper. They ask: Who lives here? Who is the most vulnerable when the power goes out? That is where diversity, fairness and inclusion (dei) enters; It brings lived experience in the design. It ensures that clean energy systems are not only efficient, but are also focused on people.
And today there is an incredible chance: renewable energy is not only sustainable, it is affordable. Electricity from renewable energy sources is now cheaper than fossil fuels. This makes it possible for vulnerable communities to finally access reliable, cheap electricity. That is the real promise of inclusion: it bridges innovation with justice.
Of course my personal journey in this sector has not been without challenges. Even after more than two decades in energy, I am still dealing with bias and skepticism. Sometimes people simply underestimate me because I am a woman. Other times they reject my work because it is unconventional; Floating solar energy does not always fit in traditional views of energy infrastructure.
And to be honest, I have not “conquered” a bias. Some days it still hurts. I ask myself. But I keep going, not because it is easy, but because I believe in what I am building. In the course of time I learned to let the mission speak louder than the doubt, even when those doubt comes from within.
At Heliorec, the company I founded, inclusion is not just a principle; It is part of our DNA. More than 50% of our team is women, which is rare in the hardware and renewable energy space. But gender diversity is only part of the photo. Our team includes several nationalities and generations. We bring people from different cultural and age grounds together because I believe that innovation thrives when different voices are heard.
As a leader, my role is to make room for this. That means encouraging openness, mutual respect and shared goal. It is about creating an environment where people feel safe to speak, contribute and challenge. That is how inclusive cultures grow and how great ideas are born.
If I look ahead, I see the next generation as the real catalysts of transformation. My advice to young women who enter the Solar and Renewable Energy sector is this: believe in the value of your voice, even if the room is full of people who look different or think than you. This industry needs your perspective. Learn the basic principles, stay curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
And don’t forget: renewable energy is not just a career, it’s a mission. You not only build systems; You build the future. Permanent happiness is born of hard work, and it will give you the resilience to rise above every obstacle.
Polina is an environmental entrepreneur with two master’s degree programs in chemistry and renewable energy. She is also a mentor in women in technology, an active traveler and a diver. Polina saw many beautiful places ruined by negative anthropogenic effects and based on her personal experience and internal feelings, she decided to change her career path from the ‘black’ side of fossil fuels to the ‘green’ side of renewable energy. After a successful 14-year career in the oil and gas industry, Polina decided to make a fundamental career change and do something useful for the planet. Both her training and work experience led her to find Heliorec. Heliorec is a startup in the field of floating solar technologies.
Interested in becoming a member Polina Vasilenko And other leaders and experts in industry at women in Solar+ Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author, and do not necessarily reflect it by PV -Magazine.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to work with us and reuse part of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
