Lessons from women in the construction workforce

We supported the financing for this project’s construction in 2023. During our ongoing monitoring, we noted a high number of women in the workforce during the construction phase – c.3 percentage points above the national average. This project challenged traditional assumptions on women’s ability to take on male-dominated roles. It also revealed business and community benefits of having more women in the workforce.

The Kenhardt Solar Project is one of the world’s largest hybrid solar and battery storage facilities. The project was awarded to a consortium of Scatec and H1 Capital under South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMI4P) launched in 2020.

Kenhardt, a small town in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, is home to approximately 5,000 residents. Like many rural areas, it faces economic challenges, particularly in terms of employment and poverty. Against this backdrop, the project developers saw an opportunity to not only deliver electricity to South Africa, but to also work alongside the community to unlock local economic growth. Through collaboration with local stakeholders, the project aimed to create job opportunities, support skills development, and strengthen the foundation for long-term prosperity in Kenhardt.

Specifically, the women in the project’s construction workforce helped to realise a number of business benefits as well as benefits for the wider community. Women were praised for their quality of work, their greater reliability and their contributions to a positive workplace culture. More broadly, their inclusion helped to increase local household incomes and shift perceptions on the roles of women and their value in the construction industry.

This case study is notable for its unusual levels of female participants and the positive impact this has had on both the project and the women involved. It offers insights for infrastructure developers and investors interested in achieving similar outcomes in their own projects. We hope this will help set new standards and lessons for inclusivity in renewable energy projects.