The story was based on an interview with UNDP's ACCESS project staff, Aulia Nadira, a striving young woman who pursued her dream and career in the engineering field and currently supports one of UNDP's projects to provide electricity access for rural communities.
Enabling women in STEM, reversing gender gap in energy sector
August 2, 2024
![a wooden pier next to a body of water](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/20240219_105908.jpg)
The bridge connecting Baliara village, Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi Province, to the outside world
Despite the male-dominated campus environment, Aulia Nadira was undeterred from pursuing a career in electrical power engineering, a field typically lacking female representation. During her studies, the department had only 47 students, with just five women. However, after graduating from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and gaining experience in various roles, Aulia's determination to focus on renewable energy only grew stronger. She pursued a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Energy from the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, further solidifying her commitment to this field.
UNDP, with G-to-G development grant funding support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Indonesia, implements a 4-year project titled “Accelerating Clean Energy Access to Reduce Inequality (ACCESS)” in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR/ESDM). The project aims to support the poor and most vulnerable communities in having equitable and sustainable access to basic services, namely water and electricity, to improve their livelihoods. ACCESS project has attracted Aulia to join the UNDP team as a Technical Analyst – Rural Electrification.
With the belief in women’s capacity to make a difference in the lives of others, Aulia, who is passionate about renewable and sustainable energy, holds optimistic expectations for the development of Solar Power Plants (PLTS) in Indonesia. Aulia envisions that PLTS will provide electricity to remote areas in Indonesia, enabling the residents to enhance their quality of life and engage in productive activities during the evening hours, all at an affordable cost.
![a person standing in front of a fence](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/profile_photo_aulia_nadira_1.jpg)
Aulia Nadira at the Solar PV Plant generated by UNDP's ACCESS Project in Gaura Village, East Nusa Tenggara Province
Q: Hi Aulia. Could you share a bit about your background? Do your parents provide you with support and guidance in your new undertaking?
My parents hail from Javanese and Sundanese backgrounds, and I was born in Bandung. However, I grew up in Bekasi, West Java. During my high school years, my parents steered me towards engineering courses, assuming the difficulty in finding employment with a social science degree. I was unsure in the beginning, but I eventually decided to pursue electrical engineering at ITB. My decision received full support from my parents.
Observing the minimal representation of women in my chosen major, I began to understand why engineering disciplines are often labeled as predominantly male. Upon closer examination, I noticed that none of my lecturers at the time were women, and there were no female teaching assistants or laboratory supervisors. Furthermore, even the energy concession laboratory lacked facilities for women, requiring me to move to another building if I needed to use the restroom while working in the laboratory.
Textbooks were predominantly authored by men. During my time at university, I observed that seminars were typically led by male presenters. Female speakers were occasionally featured, typically on occasions such as Kartini's Day or Mother's Day, where they would address topics related to balancing motherhood and career. Meanwhile, male speakers were invited to discuss topics within their respective scientific fields, including the latest advancements in solar panel technology or enhancing plant productivity.
As I contemplated my career path and sought employment opportunities, I pondered whether I wanted to remain in the electrical sector and whether I could succeed in it. At that point in my early twenties, my perspective may have been somewhat limited. I wondered if staying in the electrical field would lead to a successful career for me.
Q: Can you please provide a brief overview of your career path leading up to your involvement in the ACCESS project?
I started my career in sales at Paragon, a company manufacturing Wardah and Make Over cosmetics. Subsequently, I transitioned into e-commerce at Tokopedia. During this period, I refrained from pursuing opportunities in the electrical sector due to doubts regarding my capabilities in that field. I felt that my academic knowledge was not being fully utilized. However, by 2018, I came to realize my dissatisfaction with the sales profession, particularly the constant pressure to meet numerical targets. This aspect of the job was draining and lacked the challenge I sought. Sales jobs were not for me.
At that time, I learned of a vacancy at the State Electricity Company (PLN). After consulting with my parents and several experienced colleagues who had worked at PLN, I discovered that the company was undergoing significant changes, that PLN was no longer dominated solely by men and moving away from traditional practices like insider recruitment. Instead, recruitment processes are now entirely overseen by external institutions. Fortunately, I was accepted into PLN, marking my return to the electrical power sector. My initial placement was in Jombang, East Java, where I encountered unexpected challenges despite the distance of less than 1,000 km to the capital. The situation was still not ideal. The electrical system faced frequent disruptions due to weather conditions and damage from various sources like trees, bats, and reptiles. Implementing strategic network maintenance became crucial to ensure an uninterrupted power supply, particularly for students preparing for exams who needed electricity to study at night.
During 2018-2019, numerous seminars were held on renewable energy, with the Sosim Cirata PLT project garnering significant attention. I discovered my passion for the electrical power sector during this time. While working at PLN, I also focused on numerical targets, such as limiting the frequency of outages per month or maintaining the maximum system failure index within a certain percentage. However, I realized that these numbers held significant meaning as they directly affected people's lives. It was in this environment that I became convinced that this was the path I truly enjoyed.
Subsequently, I was relocated to a remote village in Banten, nestled deep within forests. Establishing an electrical network in such areas proved to be costly, although the sole customers were households benefiting from subsidized rates. Renewable energy emerged as the solution for ensuring continued access to electricity in these remote regions. Unfortunately, at that time, only the central PLN had renewable energy resources.
Then, I considered the idea of returning to university because I felt I lacked the expertise needed to fully grasp the renewable energy field. In 2019, I pursued a master's degree to bolster my understanding, and by 2020, I had completed my studies and returned to Indonesia. Then, I joined EPC Development, a consultancy specializing in renewable energy. My primary task was to assess the feasibility and viability of Solar Power Plant (PLTS) projects. Having served there for nearly two years as a team leader, I felt ready for a fresh challenge. It was then that I learned about job openings at UNDP through the Renewable Engineer Community Group. I applied and was grateful to be selected as a Technical Analyst on Rural Electrification. I commenced my role in October 2022, which means I've been with UNDP for a year and six months. I thoroughly enjoy my work at UNDP and eagerly anticipate the completion of PLTS projects.
Q: What motivates you to continue working in the renewable energy field?
There are two primary driving factors. First, it's for future career opportunities. I am confident that the electrical power sector will endure because electricity has become a fundamental necessity for humanity, akin to clothing, food, and shelter. Without electricity, essential services like the internet would cease to function. I believe that the field of renewable and sustainable energy will last throughout my lifetime, providing me with the assurance that my knowledge and skills will remain valuable and sought after.
Secondly, renewable energy is a field that resonates with me due to its inherent sense of purpose. It goes beyond merely pursuing sales targets. The ongoing work on PLTS by ACCESS is not without its challenges, as its capacity is constrained. Therefore, I find this field challenging, and provides me with a deeper sense of purpose in life.
Q: Kindly elaborate on the concept of a solar power plant (PLTS) and its societal implications.
A solar power plant is a facility that converts solar radiation, made up of light, heat, and ultraviolet radiation, into electricity. The development of solar power plants (PLTS) in Indonesia began back in 2013. Now, in 2024, significant advancements have been made in the technology, resulting in more sophisticated and compact systems at lower costs with higher productivity. As technology progresses, investment costs decrease, prompting more extensive research on the feasibility of replacing conventional energy sources with PLTS over the next few decades. The viability of this transition depends on various factors, including technological innovations, investor interest, and crucially, government regulation.
Between 2019 and 2024, there has been a notable increase in discussions, seminars, and community events centered around renewable energy. However, the progress in developing regulations to facilitate the expansion of PLTS (solar power plants) has been limited. Despite expectations of new regulations governing non-rooftop PLTS to be introduced this year, they are still undergoing discussions. This uncertainty poses a significant barrier for investors, as the lack of clear regulations may discourage them from investing in non-rooftop PLTS projects.
![a train is parked on the side of the road](/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-08/20240220_085924.jpg)
Solar Panel PV in Baliara Village, Southeast Sulawesi Province
Q: What are the obstacles encountered in this field and how to overcome them?
Obstacles in professional endeavours are ever-present. This project involves numerous stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and PLN. The primary hurdle lies in coordinating information among various parties with diverse interests. It is imperative to adhere to the project's terms of reference (ToR) and project document while aligning with the established goals agreed upon with donors and partners. However, effective communication is also essential, as stakeholders may have different interests that need to be addressed.
Q: Do you have a role model to look up to?
To be honest, I don't have a specific role model because I believe I learn valuable lessons from everyone I interact with in my work. For instance, I've gained significant insights from my manager, Kak Sherry, as well as from other individuals like Mbak Rara (Verania Andria).
Q: Do female professionals in the renewable energy sector engage in networking with one another?
Unfortunately, there are no female-centric organizations yet. However, there is a community of female students in the renewable energy field dedicated to share information and knowledge, which encourages STEM. They organize seminars and workshops and provide guidance on CV preparation tailored specifically for female engineers who have recently graduated.
Q: What steps can be taken to promote women's involvement in STEM fields within the Indonesian context?
I will specifically address the context of renewable energy, as it encompasses more than just technology. It's not only female engineers who should be encouraged to pursue this field, but also female accountants, lawyers, and professionals from various other disciplines. Renewable energy involves aspects such as investment calculations, regulatory compliance, and adherence to standards, among others. Students should be guided and encouraged to pursue this field starting from their university years. Exposure to renewable energy concepts during high school would also be advantageous, ideally beginning at an even earlier age, considering the limited awareness currently present. There are no gender restrictions in pursuing a career in the electricity sector, particularly within the realm of renewable energy.
Q: How do you maintain a work-life balance?
Being single makes it relatively simple for me to achieve a work-life balance in both my current and previous positions. I haven't faced any major obstacles that affect my work-life balance.
Would married women with children encounter challenges in pursuing careers in renewable energy and the electricity sector?
In my view, no, because the scope of renewable energy is quite extensive. It depends on the specific role within the field that one desires. For instance, a person may prefer to work as a field engineer requiring frequent travel, or perhaps as an advisor primarily working from an office setting. Alternatively, one might aspire to be a material researcher, primarily conducting technology experiments in a laboratory environment. The choice largely hinges on the particular area of interest one wishes to pursue within this field.
Furthermore, this is not solely applicable to women. Married men also encounter limitations in their work hours due to family commitments. Therefore, this aspect applies to both men and women. Having a family, children, or a partner should not be perceived as a barrier or limitation in this sector. Ideally, both men and women are treated equally.
Q: Do you have any advice for women who might still be uncertain about choosing renewable energy as their career path? Is this field truly worth pursuing?
Regardless of gender, we possess the inherent ability as an agent of change—whether it's a small or substantial transformation. It is crucial to have self-belief in one’s capacity to bring about change. Change is not a solitary endeavor; it requires a collective effort from various individuals working towards positive transformations. The mantra "women supporting women" holds significant value, and forming communities can serve as a solution to foster this collective effort - together we are stronger.
Edited by Enggi Dewanti & Wiryawan Nimpuno