This week, women in Solar+ Europe give a voice to Yana Hryshko, Managing Consultant, APAC, head of Global Solar Supply Chain Research at Wood Mackenzie. She says that the PV industry in China in the divide of gender, although still present, feels less rigid than in Europe. “Women are active in various departments, including engineering, production, QA, sales and research,” she says. “Although men remain the majority, the gap feels narrower than in Europe.”
The solar industry stands out as one of the more accessible energy sectors for women, especially in policy, research, consulting, ESG and marketing. These areas have welcomed female talent more easily than many traditional fields. But when it comes to production, construction, engineering and finance, the gender gorge remains grim – wider trends in the global industry. Much of this imbalance can be traced to education, where fewer girls strive for voice compartments, creating a long-term pipeline problem that the presence of women in technical roles is limited.
As a relatively young industry, Solar has a unique opportunity to break down from these outdated patterns. We can still choose to do things differently – to emerge inclusiveness and fairness in the foundation. But to achieve permanent change, we must not only confront the symptoms, but also the causes that lie outside our sector. It starts with encouraging girls to explore stem fields early, to dismantle stereotypes about “suitable” careers for women and to feed their trust to lead, speak and step into spaces that are traditionally reserved for men.
Systemic change is slow because the challenging deep -rooted standards and structures requires. It is not enough to open doors, we must ensure that women are supported as soon as they are inside. This means creating spaces for mentorship, offering real visibility and giving women like credit for their contributions. Representation alone is not fairness. Equity requires action.
I started my career in the PV industry in China, where the gender, although still present, feels less rigid. Women are active in various departments, including engineering, production, QA, sales and research. Although men remain the majority, the gap feels narrower than in Europe. Attending SNEC in Shanghai and then recently Intersolar in Munich, I saw a striking contrast. Women were noticeably under -represented in many European cabins. That contrast emphasized how much regional culture the sex dynamics in our field influence.
Nowadays I work in the solar -supply chain, focused on research and analysis. Here too, the genderon balance is clear, especially on industrial panels and at conferences. When I spoke in the Global PV Scientists Panel at Snec, I was the only woman on stage. And yet having only one woman under ten men is still too often celebrated as ‘diverse’. That is not a reflection of a lack of qualified women – it is a sign of structural exclusion. We must normalize the visibility of women in very technical and strategic spaces.
Bias remains a daily reality. As a manager I am not called ‘bossy’, but I am called ‘aggressive’ or ‘difficult’ to call or worry. Male colleagues who do the same are praised as “assertive” or “confident”. These double standards carry you over time. Even if you are sure of yourself, the constant pushback can plant seeds of doubt.
Yet I am firmly convinced that there are more opportunities than obstacles. The PV industry still writes his story – and this time more women will hold the pen. While Solar continues to expand and innovate, new voices are not only welcome – they are essential. Women who now join have a real chance to shape the direction of the sector, especially in transforming areas such as sustainability, digitization and global strategy.
So for every woman who enters this field: don’t be afraid to take space. Find every opportunity to learn, speak and lead – even when it feels uncomfortable. You do not have to have all the answers to offer value, and you absolutely belong to the table. Build your community, trust your instincts and don’t be stopped against you.
The future of the solar industry is still defined. And with courage, cooperation and vision it can be a future that is powered by equality.
Yana Hryshko is a supply chain and business development leader with more than ten years of experience in the solar and energy storage industry. Currently Senior research analyst and head of Solar Supply Chain Research at Wood Mackenzie, she leads research into production, prices and market dynamics in Europe, North America and APAC worldwide. Yana has held senior functions at top zoning companies, stimulates expansion strategies, innovation of supply chain and strategic partnerships. With a strong background in power-generating sourcing, market information and cross-regional activities, she has consistently built well-performing teams and has produced impactful results. Her work bridges technical expertise with strategic insight, so that the future of solar production and distribution shape. Yana is also a passionate advocate for more gender diversity in the sun sector and serves as a consultant for clean energy projects in Ukraine.
Interested in becoming a member Yana Hryshko And other leaders and experts in industry at women in Solar+ Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
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